Why Do Some Doctors Charge You For Medical Letters

[Iron Sights]

I've always wondered why some doctors charge money for doctors letters/notes. The most I've heard was £50!! This seems to happen more often especially near the university campus area.

Can anyone shed any light on this???

[jim]

It's challenging stuff to write a templated letter?

[MadduckUK]

your not really ill and its a bribe?

[Lee H]

It's because they've got to pay for a translation service to convert their illegible scribes into readable words that us common morals can read.

[Alex]

Depends on the letter. Sick notes are part of a GPs job. A medical check-up to check fitness to do a specific job however is the responsibility of an employer and not a GPs job - but they are free to do such things as a private contract if they want.

[Iron Sights]

well a quick search on google came up with this:

http://www.bridgecottagesurgery.nhs....y.asp?cat=1177


I'm not sure how up to date this is but

Q. Isn't the NHS supposed to be free?
A. .....Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees. In other cases it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies, claim forms for referral for private care and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient's medical records.

[Iron Sights]

.....That will be 10 Quid

[peterb]

If it is a private service he is offering (ie, outside his NHS contracted services) you are paying for the knowledge and expertise of the letter writer's signature - and he/she is taking responsibility for the content - even if they didn't draft it. The same is true for a solicitor's letter (for example) if you are outside the legal aid system.

You are not paying for the physical letter - you are paying for the authoratitive content - based on the professional traing.

An analagy would be buying a CD. The medium is worth a few pence - the rest of the cost is for the content (and distribution etc - but you get the point I'm sure!)

[badass]

If it is a private service he is offering (ie, outside his NHS contracted services) you are paying for the knowledge and expertise of the letter writer's signature - and he/she is taking responsibility for the content - even if they didn't draft it. The same is true for a solicitor's letter (for example) if you are outside the legal aid system.

You are not paying for the physical letter - you are paying for the authoratitive content - based on the professional traing.

An analagy would be buying a CD. The medium is worth a few pence - the rest of the cost is for the content (and distribution etc - but you get the point I'm sure!)

Exactly.

[TooNice]

Interesting. I would've thought that it would be within the NHS's 'jurisdiction' to issue sick notes on the taxpayer (which shouldn't be expensive in the first place) if it is of the public's interest. Better that than letting the guy spray germs everywhere at lectures/work.

[peterb]

Interesting. I would've thought that it would be within the NHS's 'jurisdiction' to issue sick notes on the taxpayer (which shouldn't be expensive in the first place) if it is of the public's interest. Better that than letting the guy spray germs everywhere at lectures/work.

The OP didn't state waht the letter was for - but yes, a sick note (or fit note as they are now) would probably hbe within the scope of the Doctor's NHS contract. (And a Doctor doesn't have to operate within the NHS - he can operate entirely privately - in which case you would be charged)

But for specialist services, such as a diving medical, or a flying medical, which are outside the NHS provision, then that will be a private consultation.

[TooNice]

Fair enough, I did assume that the OP meant a fit/sick note from a doctor working within NHS (I am quite sure nothing's free if you go private, even a consultation can result in a bill).

[jim]

I couldn't believe that they charge for a referral letter if you decided to take a matter private.

That should be free as far as I'm concerned, considering you're saving them money in the long run.

[Iron Sights]

I'm asking cos some of my mates were saying that they were being charged £50 for a doctors note, which they needed as evidence because of an illness that they had during the exam period.

[jim]

I've had one done personally when I had flu during an exam period, and wasn't charged anything.

I went in for a diagnosis, the doctor said I was ill, and I asked him to write a letter explaining that diagnosis - which took him all of 30 seconds. Job done.

[scaryjim]

I'm asking cos some of my mates were saying that they were being charged £50 for a doctors note, which they needed as evidence because of an illness that they had during the exam period.

Did they go to the doctor while they were ill and ask for the note, or are they trying to get them retrospectively? If it's the latter I should imagine they're being asked for an administrative charge to cover the searching back through medical records, compiling the details of visits and diagnoses etc...