Having seen all the e mails flying back and forth on this subject I have
found the debate very interesting and enlightening. I always thought one lot
of nurses didn't know what the other lot where doing and it is interesting
to see that doctors have the same trouble! As an independent practitioner
myself with my own business I am often asked for my professional expertise -
in fact that is what I sell. As a one 'man' practitioner with few overheads
I believe the fee you quote below is very reasonable. I suppose I see it as
who contracts you to do what and as a GP you are contracted by the NHS to do
certain things and providing professional advice to industry and commerce is
not part of that contract - so you charge the market fee. In calculating
company budgets staffing costs are salary plus 26% which covers training,
insurances etc and I guess that should include paying for such things as
occupational health provisions and 'doctors letters'. What I think is so
awful is that the GP in the original e mail entered into a contract by
quoting the fee for services, received the fee and failed to deliver on the
contract and that is breach of contract and could be dealt with by the legal
beagles - I wonder what a solicitor would say? Does the company have a legal
department or does your professional organisation ( like we have the RCN)
have a legal dept that would offer advice? In other part of our life if we
parted with £60 for a service and did not receive that service we would do
something about it - small claims courts spring to mind. My own experience
of sole trading for nearly 3 years is that most people do what they say they
are going to do - if a little late occasionally.
Juts a few thoughts on the subject............
Greta Thornbory
Education & Health Care Consultant
WWW.gtenterprises-uk.com
01235 770156 phone
01235 765797 fax
07778 518 027 mobile
----- Original Message -----
From: Mark O'Connor <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 12:11 AM
Subject: Re: : non-receipt of GP reports
I agree!
Despite penning some terse and irritable emails on this subject I am not
unreasonable ;-)
£60 pays for 30 minutes of activity - remember that this fee is
calculated by the BMA to cover the overheads of the business (
consumables, rates,rent,secretarial salaries etc...) as well as profit
So most reports will be from the recorded notes which simply may not
contain sufficient for your information needs
I am not standing up for poor quality and I have emailed you privately
with other suggestions
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Occupational Health mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Swann, Alan B
Sent: 09 October 2002 14:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: : non-receipt of GP reports
Re: Mark O'Connor's response
The primary problem is not the fee, but non-delivery of goods where a
contractual agreement has been negotiated, as in the case I described.
I do however admit to being pissed off when charged £60-70 for a lazily
compiled report which, unfortunately is all I receive from some GP &
hospital colleagues, despite me spending time giving context &
explanation of my information needs when seeking a report.
Regards
Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
Director of Occupational Health
Occupational Health Service
Imperial College Health Centre
Watts Way
London
SW7 1 LU
Tel: +44 (20) 7594 9385
Fax: +44 (20) 7594 9407
http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 October 2002 13:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: : non-receipt of GP reports
Could you elaborate on this "Problem"?
It seems a fairly simple rule that "Work done = some form of
remuneration" - most jobs work on this principle
Are you saying that the integrity of reports is compromised by payment
or perhaps strengthened by such?
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Occupational Health mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert J. Tutton
Sent: 08 October 2002 14:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: : non-receipt of GP reports
I have a problem with GPs requiring payment for a report that is
supposed to be 'helping' their patient. maybe the report will not be
worth the paper it is written if and when you do eventlually get it.
John Tutton
APU
On Tue, 8 Oct 2002 12:31:10 +0100 "Swann, Alan B" <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> Why do I complain to?
>
> We requested a report from a member of staff's GP to help us complete
> a fitness assessment. GP wrote back, 30th May, requesting a fee of ?65
> to be paid first. The letter assured report would be held ready & sent
> on receipt of fee. GP received fee 8 weeks ago (don't ask about the
> speed of our accounts
> department!) Despite numerous approaches to the GP, we have still not
> received the report, being told that it isn't yet started. Is this
> professional misconduct? The GP agreed to provide a report. She
> promised delivery on receipt. Her failure to deliver is not helping
> her patient's case.
>
> Regards
>
> Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
> Director of Occupational Health
> Occupational Health Service
> Imperial College Health Centre
> Watts Way
> London
> SW7 1 LU
> Tel: +44 (20) 7594 9385
> Fax: +44 (20) 7594 9407
> http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/
> <http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/>
----------------------
John Tutton
[log in to unmask]
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