Request G.P. Letter From Different Doctor ?

Hi Everyone,

My new Doctor, of approx 1 year, has refused to write a letter of support, and has said it's not their policy to write supporting evidence.
If i change to a different Doctor,would it be the same policy, or up to the individual, to decide ?
My previous G.P. of 7 years, did a letter with no problems at all.

I would make an appointment and find out why, and then decide whether, in the light of the response, you have continued confidence in your care by the practice.

Individual GP's /practices, have their own approach as to whether they do this at all, and for free or for a charge.

If you are dependent on health related benefits, it would perhaps be best to have a practice that can write letters of support where the facts justify it.

You can however, get sight of your medical records and copies, sometimes this can be helpful information.

emma72 wrote:[/b]

Hi Everyone,

My new Doctor, of approx 1 year, has refused to write a letter of support, and has said it's not their policy to write supporting evidence.
If i change to a different Doctor,would it be the same policy, or up to the individual, to decide ?
My previous G.P. of 7 years, did a letter with no problems at all.

Hi E72,

G.P.'s are under no contractual obligation to provide letters of support for their patients.

With regards to your question, it would depend on whether your G.P.'s refusal was a personal choice, or your G.P. practice policy.

If not practice policy, then it is quite feasible that another G.P. within the practice may provide such a letter.

If this is not the case, your only other alternative is to change G.P. practice, however the other practice may operate the same policy.

If you are considering a change, try to gain recommendations from friends or relatives, with regards to a more supportive G.P.

bro58

Is your GP supportive in general of your need to be on ESA?

Mine is, but still didn't want to write a letter of support in the first instance simply because she's done that for other patients of hers and felt that her input had been ignored.

She has no confidence in the system and saves writing evidence for appeals (unless she gets sent the esa 113 form after you've sent your esa50 in.)

I must say this freaked me out because I think i'd crack up completely if I got declared fit for work. I do have a mental health professional who has written evidence for me though.

I did ask this newish (to me) GP to look back at my records from my old practice which she has done fairly thoroughly so that's good. I also tried to explain some of the key esa criteria to her. I told her I was feeling pretty desperate and fears of complete breakdown in the event of being declared fit for work. (which would tie in with what's in my past history).

But such is her lack of faith in the system she'd still wait til an appeal to write a supporting letter if it came to that and told me she'd support me as much as she possibly could - for referring me for extra support for my health needs if it did come to appeal and for the appeal itself.

She feels more confident about appeals as all the patients she has supported through that process have won them.