Menu Home Search

Providing Reports on Incapacity to Patients

Updated on Tuesday, 20 January 2015, 1775 views

GPs, as certifying medical practitioners, have a statutory obligation to provide statements of incapacity to patients on their list and certain information to a Medical Officer when requested. However, under their NHS contract there is no requirement for GPs to provide reports or offer an opinion on incapacity for work to anyone else unless requested to do so by Jobcentre Plus.

Claimants should contact Jobcentre Plus or the Appeals Service, where appropriate, if they think that further medical evidence is necessary to support their claim or appeal. They should state clearly their reasons for believing that further evidence is necessary.

If Jobcentre Plus or the Appeals Service consider that further medical evidence is necessary, they will seek it. They will be responsible for paying any fee to the doctor providing the report.

So NHS GPs are under no obligation to provide such evidence to their patients nor to provide it free of charge. If a GP does not agree to provide additional evidence for their patient then it is a private matter to be resolved between the GP and their patient.

Related guidance...

Duration of Prescriptions and 7 Day Prescribing

This is a recurrent issue and something that we are contacted about at the LMC on a regular basis with GPs and practices asking whether...

Certification - GMS Contract & Legal Obligations

The following is a list of obligations relating to Certification by GPs: GPs are obliged to provide data essential for a clinical...

Certificates for which GPs May Not Charge a Fee

Bankruptcy Any individual who is able to give information about a bankrupt may be required to give evidence, for which no charge can be...

Hep B Immunisation

Hepatitis B Immunisation The following guidance is largely drawn from the BMA’s Focus on Hepatitis B Immunisations Practices may be...

Medical Certificates for Housing

Medical Certificates for Housing Somerset Local Medical Committees represent all the GPs in the county and has a statutory duty to...

Fitness to Fly & Covid Certificates

Fitness to fly certificates are not part of GMS contractual work and so GPs are under no obligation to issue them. If you do decide to...

ESA Appeals and Medical Evidence

As the rules tighten more people are losing their ability to claim. Many are likely to appeal and ask their GP to help in this appeal....

Police requests for medical notes from general practice

There is clear guidance regarding the obligations that GPs have with respect to copying and/or release of the GP record. For your...

Care Homes

Patients in Care Homes, Deaths in Care Homes and GP responsibilities. LMCs often receive questions from practices about the provision...

Choice Of GP Practice-Out of the Area Registrations

NHS England released guidance on the new out of area patient registration (choice of GP practice) arrangements during November 2014,...