Doctors and specialists fees.

Hello everyone,

I keep seeing reference on this site of the charges made by some doctors and specialists for medical reports and statements, some of which are quite extraordinary.One was quoted as a Consultant charging £300.

I have in fromt of me a GPFR form which was sent to my own G.P after my last renewal of D.L.A which I would not have known about if it hadn't been sent to me by the D.W.P as evidence they have with regard to a subsequent appeal.

The letter states to the G.P what his patient is claiming for, tells him of his patients consent to approach him, and is asked to fill in the form on his knowledge of the patient. He is also asked if it would be possible to reply within ten working days. It explains that a form is attached for him to fill in to claim a fee of £33.50. This was in 2010.

It tells the G.P what medical conditions the patient has which is known to the D.W.P, and asks about the results of any tests which have occured. There are then seven questions as to the general state of his patients conditions.

I am now left wandering how these rather expensive charges are asked by the G.P's and Consultants are worked out which have been reported on this site if this £33.50 is all the D.W.P are willing to pay the G.P's.

paul wrote:

Hello everyone,

I keep seeing reference on this site of the charges made by some doctors and specialists for medical reports and statements, some of which are quite extraordinary.One was quoted as a Consultant charging £300.

I have in fromt of me a GPFR form which was sent to my own G.P after my last renewal of D.L.A which I would not have known about if it hadn't been sent to me by the D.W.P as evidence they have with regard to a subsequent appeal.

The letter states to the G.P what his patient is claiming for, tells him of his patients consent to approach him, and is asked to fill in the form on his knowledge of the patient. He is also asked if it would be possible to reply within ten working days. It explains that a form is attached for him to fill in to claim a fee of £33.50. This was in 2010.

It tells the G.P what medical conditions the patient has which is known to the D.W.P, and asks about the results of any tests which have occured. There are then seven questions as to the general state of his patients conditions.

I am now left wandering how these rather expensive charges are asked by the G.P's and Consultants are worked out which have been reported on this site if this £33.50 is all the D.W.P are willing to pay the G.P's.

Hi,

GP's, Consultants etc as part of their contract with the NHS are required to complete forms/reports for such as the DWP and thus do so at a more or less fixed cost.

The same GP's. consultants etc are under no contract to provide reports for patients at the patients request and thus it can be treated as private work and they can charge accordingly.

It is however possible to obtain some information cheaply via the Data Protection Act and your right to view your notes etc but this does not generally extend to writing reports for the patient at the patients request.

Pete

Hi Pete and Paul.

I can't see my consultant psychiatrist charging to write a supportive letter for his patients - he certainly hasn't in the past.

Best wishes

Catherine wrote:

Hi Pete and Paul.

I can't see my consultant psychiatrist charging to write a supportive letter for his patients - he certainly hasn't in the past.

Best wishes

Hi Catherine,

You are very lucky in that case. Whilst invariably some may do reports for free, many now do charge for them as it is not part of their NHS contract.

Pete

How mean - as if they don't get paid enough already! (I can understand them charging something if they are so busy they have to do it in their own time and it's a detailed report that takes a lot of time).

Best wishes