Money grabbing GPs

[Casper46]

We have just paid £90 to our GP to fill in a tick box, one A4 page. The joke is that it was confirming that himself was of sound mind and fit to hold a shotgun licence. Considering that he hasn't seen a doctor for at least 20 years then anyone on the street would have as much knowledge about his mental health as a doctor who has never met him.

 

[ShiftZZ]

When my mum got sectioned, the Court of Protection required confirmation that she had lost capacity.
As mum had been with the same surgery since birth and the current GP's knew her well and her history , I sent the Court request to the surgery. They refused, stating that they were not contacted to complete such requests, they suggested I contact a private psychiatrist , who would be engaged to review my mum, someone who did not know her, or her history, the surgery suggested one at a coat of £8000+

This is the same surgery and the same GP's who contacted me to advise me of my mums lack of capacity and her demands on GP time.

 

[carolyn]

We have just paid £90 to our GP to fill in a tick box, one A4 page. The joke is that it was confirming that himself was of sound mind and fit to hold a shotgun licence. Considering that he hasn't seen a doctor for at least 20 years then anyone on the street would have as much knowledge about his mental health as a doctor who has never met him.

Those are the the easy ones, they make up for the ones that you do because there’s no actual reason not to give them a licence but there’s that little niggle in the back of your mind that gives you the odd sleepless night!

Over 95% of GPs money comes from the NHS. Filling in these forms, doing these letters is not part of their terms of service and is the “private“ part of their work. Like insurance reports as well. and medicals. GPs hate doing them, they take up too much time when they need to be seeing patients, especially now when they’re stretched so thin.

 

[stevewagner]

John needed a letter to be able to take his CPAP machine on the plane not in the hold. This was about 15 years ago, don't remember having to pay for it, and worded in such a way as to cover all future travel. Think £20 is a fair price, but should have been worded to cover all trips.

I’ve been taking my CPAP machine on planes for over 20 years and never been asked for anything

 

[Portland]

I bet the OP wishes he hadn't posted now.

Think that's a bit harsh and uncalled for. Because the m/h is already in Spain they have no need for checked baggage.

Thanks Bailey, but no I don't wish I hadn't posted it. I'm a retired highly qualified bloke who started on £1.12/6d for 44 hours all overtime unpaid. I have signed many passport applications over the years and never charged a penny, it's called client relations.
Thanks Terry mate for your support, but you know the old saying Water off a Ducks back.

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[The Wino]

We have just paid £90 to our GP to fill in a tick box, one A4 page. The joke is that it was confirming that himself was of sound mind and fit to hold a shotgun licence. Considering that he hasn't seen a doctor for at least 20 years then anyone on the street would have as much knowledge about his mental health as a doctor who has never met him.

Why would they want to do it for nothing? If he turned out to be a bad un and shot someone or walked into a school and shot a few kids wouldn't the GP be investigated as to why they signed the form? Another way out would be for the GP to refuse to sign any forms not required as part of their NHS contract but then presumably none of their patients would be able to have a shotgun.

 

[Kups]

A bit off topic but what I really object to is paying CAMC £25 for the honour of making my own online alteration to a pitch booking caused by illness. Took me all of 10 seconds to make the change.
Absolutely zero response to my formal complaint of course

 

[Casper46]

Why would they want to do it for nothing? If he turned out to be a bad un and shot someone or walked into a school and shot a few kids wouldn't the GP be investigated as to why they signed the form? Another way out would be for the GP to refuse to sign any forms not required as part of their NHS contract but then presumably none of their patients would be able to have a shotgun.

My point is that they signed the form without having ever met him, I don't expect them to do it for free but £90 is a bit pricey. As for no one having shotguns that would be the sport of clay pigeon shooting finished.

 

[Verteuil Man]

I wonder how much a vet would charge for a letter for needles for pet injections to be transported in hand luggage?

 

[royandsharont]

I wonder how much a vet would charge for a letter for needles for pet injections to be transported in hand luggage?

Our vet charged nothing when our cat was on medication that was dispensed daily via a syringe. I suppose I paid for it with the rather costly medication. We travelled in the tunnel but needed it to possess the syringes and medication if challenged.

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[Spriddler]

I wonder how much a vet would charge for a letter for needles for pet injections to be transported in hand luggage?

A bit O/T and I don't know if she was correct but chatting about pets to the nurse of my local health centre in the queue in the local farm shop she surprised me by saying that a vet can treat (prescribe for) humans but a doctor isn't permitted to treat (prescribe for) animals.

 

[Itsmcb]

15mins to do a letter @ £20 = £640 for an 8hr days work, cheap if you ask me for a professional.

Electricians rates in Switzerland

 

[elamessa]

A bit O/T and I don't know if she was correct but chatting about pets to the nurse of my local health centre in the queue in the local farm shop she surprised me by saying that a vet can treat (prescribe for) humans but a doctor isn't permitted to treat (prescribe for) animals.

Correct. A veterinary surgeon can do that. They are more qualified than a GP.

 

[Spriddler]

Correct. A veterinary surgeon can do that. They are more qualified than a GP.

Thanks. That'll be really useful to know if I become unwell as my dog can always get a same-day appointment at the vet. (Hopefully I wouldn't have get down on all fours for him/her).

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

The op stated they needed the letter to get the needles through customs. They would have the same issue with cabin bags and checked in hold baggage; both can be searched when arriving in Spain.

They would not have an issue with needles in a hold luggage. In hand luggage they could be used as a weapon and wouldn't be allowed. I doubt they would even be allowed on board with a doctors letter. How easy would that be to forge by a terrorist for example.
If opened in the place of arrival then the needles don't pose an issue.assuming they were in thier packages and not loose.

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[The Wino]

My point is that they signed the form without having ever met him, I don't expect them to do it for free but £90 is a bit pricey. As for no one having shotguns that would be the sport of clay pigeon shooting finished.

In which case maybe they ought to tighten up shotgun licence rules to make a face to face consultation required. I do then think it would most likely cost a consultation fee plus a fee to complete the form I can't remember now what it cost for my GP to complete the form for my flying license but suspect it was a fair bit more it required the form to be completed from my own GP notes.

 

[MattR]

They would not have an issue with needles in a hold luggage. In hand luggage they could be used as a weapon and wouldn't be allowed. I doubt they would even be allowed on board with a doctors letter. How easy would that be to forge by a terrorist for example.
If opened in the place of arrival then the needles don't pose an issue.assuming they were in thier packages and not loose.

According to this, syringes are permitted in hand luggage if essential for the journey and supported by a Dr's letter...

Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports

Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports - carry-on luggage, checked-in baggage, restricted items and liquids, electronic devices carried from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia

www.gov.uk

 

[The Wino]

And of course GPs are so badly paid.

That seems well out for the UK average

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The way it's worded makes me wonder if thats the total for all the GP s.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

According to this, syringes are permitted in hand luggage if essential for the journey and supported by a Dr's letter...

Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports

Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports - carry-on luggage, checked-in baggage, restricted items and liquids, electronic devices carried from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia

www.gov.uk

You live and learn, thanks for the heads up on that.

 

[The Wino]

You live and learn, thanks for the heads up on that.

Should you wish your also allowed to carry an inflatable lifejacket and two spare co2 cylinders . We took ours when we went sailing this year we did think about wearing them to save baggage but thought we might get strange looks from other passengers!

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[rod_vw]

That seems well out for the UK average

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The way it's worded makes me wonder if thats the total for all the GP s.

I read it as for individuals as it says "The average pay for GPs working in". If it's average it must be a calculation over them all.
Maybe that's why they have to rely on 15 unqualified persons 'call handling' who have to refer to a single clinician for every call. Not my words, those of their 'Patient Engagement and Compliance Lead' in a phone call to me last week. We wait anything up to 45 minutes listening to music on hold before reaching one of the afore mentioned call handlers.

 

[Verteuil Man]

I read it as for individuals as it says "The average pay for GPs working in". If it's average it must be a calculation over them all.
Maybe that's why they have to rely on 15 unqualified persons 'call handling' who have to refer to a single clinician for every call. Not my words, those of their 'Patient Engagement and Compliance Lead' in a phone call to me last week. We wait anything up to 45 minutes listening to music on hold before reaching one of the afore mentioned call handlers.

I think it depends on the surgery. Ours are very quite to answer and we can book face to face and phone appointments online.

 

[iandsm]

" We are only hard up pensioners but it made no difference, they insisted on taking the money" cuts no ice and so it shouldn't. £20 for a private letter is quite reasonable I think. Next time I book a site or a service or have a meal out I doubt I will ask for a discount and play the pensioner card, rather embarrassing unless you have very thick skin.

 

[Portland]

Yup! Love a bit of negotiation

 

[JockandRita]

Portland. SWMBO gets her covering letter from the Pharmacist of the company contracted by the NHS, who provide and deliver her injected meds.

Where does your good lady source her needles from?

Cheers

Jock.

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[PaddyM]

A bit O/T and I don't know if she was correct but chatting about pets to the nurse of my local health centre in the queue in the local farm shop she surprised me by saying that a vet can treat (prescribe for) humans but a doctor isn't permitted to treat (prescribe for) animals.

That is simply not true , vets cannot prescribe for humans .
In exceptional circumstances a vet can prescribe human medicines for animals .
Why would anyone believe that a vet could prescribe for a human being ?
P.S I was an NMP ( now retired ) and my wife is a MRCP .

 

[Silver-Fox]

As it’s been mentioned already re shot gun license.

Can you get a shotgun license if you do or have suffered depression?

Also it’s not people with a license and a gun I’d be worried about, it’s all the guns available if you know where to look that are illegal.

 

[busby]

A bit off topic but what I really object to is paying CAMC £25 for the honour of making my own online alteration to a pitch booking caused by illness. Took me all of 10 seconds to make the change.
Absolutely zero response to my formal complaint of course

Leave the Club is the best option to make your point,,if enough did they would take note..BUSBY.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Not just the doctor you are paying for what about equipment, nurses, receptionest, premises, maintainance, council tax, electricity, phones etc.

Exactly, and it takes the GPs time away from patients, alternatively it is done at the end of the day, the equivalent of overtime. Either way why should they do it for free.

 

[carolyn]

As it’s been mentioned already re shit gun license.

Can you get a shotgun license if you do or have suffered depression?

Also it’s not people with a license and a gun I’d be worried about, it’s all the guns available if you know where to look that are illegal.

You can get a shotgun licence if you’ve been treated for depression. Obviously depression is a term used to cover so many degrees of mental illness or mental wellbeing.

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