Patients often require letters or reports to be contributed to by clinicians. Sometimes, patients book appointments for this purpose without advising the correct reason, and in these situations, clinicians are unable to carry out the request for a number of reasons relating to the appropriateness of the request.
If you need a letter/report/form/certificate or other type of written contribution from our practice, please take note of the guidance below.
If you are considering booking an appointment for this purpose, please let reception have details of what you need. You will be advised if an appointment should be booked or if further information/consideration may be required before we are able to assist you.
In many cases we will charge a fee because this would be classified as private work i.e. work that is not funded by the NHS which we are obliged to charge for. We will inform you of the exact fee once you have submitted your request and the associated documentation. If you agree to the fee we will make arrangements for the completion of the work. Depending on the type of work, this may or may not require an appointment. You can view a full list of out fees for private work here.
To Whom It May concern letters-Please make sure that the intended recipient of the letter has specifically requested it and that it will be of value to them in considering your specific request. Often it is better for you to ask them to write directly to us detailing what they need. This will save time and money where there is no specific requirement.
It is crucial to note that we cannot accept requests for the doctor to write specific words verbatim. The content of the letter will be based on the GP’s knowledge supported by your medical records. Both the letter and the accompanying opinion are considered final, and requests for alterations cannot be accommodated. The GP reserves the right to refuse a request or provide alternative wording if deemed necessary.
There are some requests that we are unable to fulfil and we highlight these to avoid disappointment-we are unable to provide confirmation of address, identity or residence nor are we able to countersign passport applications or provide references of good character.
While we strive to fulfil all requests promptly, it is important to understand that private letters and reports do not take precedence over NHS commitments. Kindly allow up to 28 days for the completion of your request and the payment of the appropriate fee. If your request is urgent or you are given a short deadline by a third party, please submit a valid evidence with your request so that we may be able to help you with your request early.