Requesting a Private Letter from your GP

 

What is a private letter?

Patients request letters from their GP for several reasons and our doctors are frequently asked to provide private or ‘To Whom it May Concern’ letters or reports for third parties.

The usual fee for a standard letter is a minimum of £35. Although more complicated letters or reports may attract a higher fee.

Why is there a charge?

The cost of these letters and reports are not covered by the NHS. They are completed during the GP’s own time and as such there is a fee payable. All letters require the doctor to review a patient’s medical records to ensure the information provided is correct, then the doctor must produce the letter.
The doctor reserves the right to refuse to write a private letter that is not covered by the NHS. The content of any letter must be factual, supported by the medical records and if an opinion is requested this must be stated as such and within the competency of the author. 

Timescales

Private letters and reports do not take priority over NHS work. Please allow up to 28 days for any requests to be fulfilled.

Content

We will not accept requests for ‘the doctor must write these exact words’. The GP will write what they know, supported by your medical record.  The GP has the right to refuse your request or provide alternative wording if they feel it is necessary.
We encourage you to check the content of the letter before you send it on to any third parties.

This should be checked to ensure that the content is factually correct, for any information that you do not wish to be shared with a third party and for references that may compromise the confidentiality of other people. Content of the letter will only be amended if these issues are clearly identified.

Appropriate request

We will try our best to help you, here are a few examples of suitable and non-suitable requests

Examples of appropriate requests:

  • The letter will only be written if it falls within the competency of the requested practitioner.
  • Fitness to travel or if you are having to cancel a holiday (normally completed with specific insurance form)
  • Confirmation of medical conditions and / or medication (this could be a summary print out)
  • Letters for mitigating circumstances, school, universities, employers or courts, etc.
     

Special considerations - e.g., fitness to fly during pregnancy

Determining fitness to fly can involve multifaceted medical, obstetric, or travel-related considerations. While we may provide general medical advice during consultations, we cannot always assess whether a patient is medically fit to fly, particularly in cases involving pregnancy or other complex conditions.

A statement of fitness to fly may be provided where an assessment of the clinical condition falls within the scope of the GP’s normal clinical practice, where the condition is deemed stable and without any recent complication or medication changes.
The written term ‘fit to fly’ would be avoided in preference to stating that ‘I know of no reason why this patient shouldn’t be fit to fly.’

Examples of requests we cannot fulfil:

  • Certificate or letter stating fitness to take part in an extreme sports event - We do not provide letters or certificates stating fitness to participate in extreme sports. Requests to confirm fitness to participate in extreme sports events, such as marathons, skydiving, or adventure activities, require assessments that extend beyond routine medical evaluations. Such assessments often demand specialised knowledge of the physical and psychological demands of the activity in question. We are unable to provide such certifications. Patients are encouraged to consult with specialist providers who have expertise in sports medicine or related fields.
  • Confirmation of address, ID or residence (we have no way to verify this)
  • Countersigning passport applications
  • Letters to the Council / Housing requirements (specialist housing teams can see elements of your care record if relevant to your case)
  • Letters stating something that is not supported by your medical record
  • Court Attendance: We do not provide opinions on suitability for court attendance in situations where a forensic medical assessment would be more appropriate.

Are you requesting a letter to support your benefit claim?

If you are requesting a letter to support your benefit claim, you may stand a better chance of success following the guidance given on the website below rather than by submitting a GP letter – appeals succeed based on comprehensive evidence.

If more information is required regarding your health / medical conditions, the organisation who you have applied for benefits from will write to us directly asking us specific questions they have.

You may find this website useful: https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Requesting a letter

Requests for letters must be put in writing and you must state clearly:

  • the reason for the letter
  • to whom it should be addressed

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