HC Deb 06 February 1973 vol 850 cc205-6
6. Mr. Storehouse

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to control the practice by doctors in the National Health Service of making separate cash charges for certificates written for their patients.

Mr. Alison

The certificates which family doctors are required to provide free of charge are listed in regulations; any other certificates which patients may require are outside the scope of the National Health Service and doctors may charge fees for them.

Mr. Stonehouse

That answer is not good enough. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a constituent of mine in Walsall, a widow earning less than £10 a week, was charged 50p by her doctor to provide a certificate confirming that she was living in a sub-standard house for her to supply to the housing department? Is he aware that another constituent was asked for two guineas by his doctor to sign the back of a passport photograph and that a third constituent was charged four guineas for endorsing a driving certificate application? Is it not a scandal that constituents who can ill afford such charges are being—

Mr. Ashton

Held to ransom.

Mr. Stonehouse

I agree with my hon. Friend. Is it not a scandal that they are being held to ransom by doctors who are already very well paid? Is it also the case that the BMA has issued a schedule of charges and, therefore, seems to be condoning these excessive amounts? Will the hon. Gentleman order an inquiry by his Department into the matter?

Mr. Alison

Doctors may charge fees for certificates to patients for their own private purposes which may lie outside the scope of the National Health Service. The BMA gives advice, though not advice binding on general practitioners and doctors, as to what they may do in this respect. At first sight, the first case that the right hon. Gentleman quoted seems as though it should have been excluded under the regulations. I should not like to commit myself. I should like to have a chance to study the points the right hon. Gentleman has made and perhaps write to him in detail.