Dear all - can anyone help resolve a matter of discussion between myself and a colleague? Especially any of you who have worked as a GP. I understood that it was part of a GP's terms and conditions that no fee was chargable for work which related to the diagnosis of potential occupational disease in their patients. I have a feeling I first heard this from Sherwood Burge in relation to the diagnosis of potential occupational asthma. My colleague understands that there is such a regulation but that it relates only to those patients of a GP who work for the NHS.
The reason why this came up is in the context of university occupational health - our main occupational diseases are occupational asthma, WRULD and stress (if you count stress). I have been at times surprised to be asked for a fee for a letter when I have initiated communications with a staff member's GP about, say, occupational asthma. Most GPs don't charge, in my experience, for letters which are part of an exchange about a potential occupational disease. But some seem to do so - and I don't think they should!
Best wishes - Kate
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