depression and suicide attempt

[samwatts 0]

I think i got a dodgy doc!!

She said should cost bout £87+ but she said she would do it for me for £60!!! seems to me she is doing it on the sly, not sure i wana risk asking for a diff doc and getting stung for the £87+ tho lol

[Oath 0]

I think i got a dodgy doc!!

She said should cost bout £87+ but she said she would do it for me for £60!!! seems to me she is doing it on the sly, not sure i wana risk asking for a diff doc and getting stung for the £87+ tho lol

Not an NHS doctor then? I think my doctor charges a flat rate on all letters etc, thats around 15 quid, 60 seems crazy high.

[homesick_american 1]

I think i got a dodgy doc!!

She said should cost bout £87+ but she said she would do it for me for £60!!! seems to me she is doing it on the sly, not sure i wana risk asking for a diff doc and getting stung for the £87+ tho lol

Some practices do charge for that sort of thing, but even 60 quid sounds like extortion. Maybe we just have a really generous GP.

[samwatts 0]

Think im gona ask on reception at the docs and see if they say the same kind of price, it is NHS and personally i thought it was just a tad bit high. But just thought it what they charge, now i have heard different i shall definatley ask!!

Thanks for the responses guys

[perfect 39]

Having worked in Doctor's surgeries most of my adult life I can tell you it doesn't matter f the Doctor is NHS or not - a letter such as this is classed as a private service as it is outwith the standard items they have to provide as a service on the NHS. If it is going to have to be a very detailed letter requiring a lot of preparation and research then this is actually pretty good value. All GP's can basically charge whatever they want to any private service, that's why it vaies so much from practice to practice.

If you can get the Doctor to come down on price that's a bonus but I would be very surprised! Hope it goes well.

[Andy & Julie 0]

I had my medical today and like eveyone else, about 6 years ago, I suffered depression and made two suicide attempts. Since then, I've been fine, not seen a psychiatrist for 6 years and am not on medication. I looked at the posts on VJ and got a letter from my GP confirming all this and saying there had been no problems since.

Now, they want another letter, stating the possibility of causing harm to myself, others or of needing psychiatric help in the future. Sorry, but I don't have a crystal ball and neither does my GP, who's refused to amend the letter in case he gets sued in the future! Luckily, I can obtain a report through my occupational health department as I work in the NHS - but anyone not lucky enough for this may struggle - unless you get a report from a clairvoyant!

[NealandCari 0]

I have a question...My SO has OCD, not a severe case and mainly the obsessive part of it (obsessive thoughts and worries, etc.) He has been on various antidepressants before and has seen a private therapist for it. Will he need a letter from his therapist? I'm not sure it's on his record, I think he asked to see a psychologist through NHS, but never received an appointment after 1.5 years. He has never attempted suicide or tried to harm himself or anything. Should he even disclose this? Or will it just be a case that they will ask for him to fax over a letter after the medical if they need it? His medical is next Tuesday, but his interview won't be for a while yet.

[TimsDaisy 0]

I don't recall the content or detail of the medical form people fill out and I wasn't there for the exam, of course, but I think you should only disclose what you are asked to disclose. That certainly doesn't mean lie or hide facts purposefully, but if there comes a point where you just think they *might* want to know, don't offer stuff that wasn't asked about. Especially if you're dealing with older problems or things that are long under control and leave you in working order.

If someone's currently on medication, if that needs to be disclosed, disclose it. If it's a medication that might catch someone's eye and lead to questions, then perhaps having a back up letter from the doc is good, in case you need to whip it out. But there's a few people lately who've faced unexpected problems due to this issue. I don't know if they could've been avoided or not. Check out linababe's posts about her med/interview experience.