HC Deb 06 November 1978 vol 957 cc42-4W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the scale of fees for doctor's services which apply to payments made by the Metropolitan Police.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Following is information about the attendance fees payable to police surgeons as laid down by the Joint Negotiating Committee for the fees of doctors assisting local authorities:

When a doctor attends in response to a call by the police—except to provide National Health Service treatment—the following fees shall be paid—with effect from 1st July 1978:

(a) to attend or examine a body or a person or a witness or a person charged or who may be charged:

  1. (i) in relation to unexpected death with suspicious circumstances: or at the request of the C.I.D.—(but see paragraph (d);
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  2. (ii) in relation to murder, attempted murder, manslaughter or grievous bodily harm;
  3. (iii) in relation to a sexual offence;
  4. (iv) in relation to any offence under the drugs Acts;
  5. (v) in connection with any offence under the Road Traffic Act where a comprehensive clinical examination is carried out—which should be at the discretion of the medical practitioner;
    • between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.—£11.25
    • between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. —£16.40
(to include the completion and signing of certification documents at the time of the examination).

(b) Alternatively but not in addition to (a) above

  1. (i) to examine a witness of a person in relation to a charge, or a police officer injured in the course of duty—where the circumstances are not included in (a) above;
  2. (ii) in connection with any offence under the Road Traffic Act—except where a comprehensive clinical examination is carried out, in which case the fee under (a)(v) should be payable—

£
between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. 7.15
between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. 12.25
(to include the completion and signing of certification documents at the time of the examination).

(c) To certify that a person is fit or unfit to be detained or to attend court, including where necessary, treatment or arrangements for treatment (where a police surgeon is specially called for that purpose).

£
between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. 6.50
between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. 10.75

(d) To advise or assist (other than under (a), (b) or (c) above) any police officer in the execution of his duty, including simple examination of remains thought to be human, and to confirm, when a body is found dead, that there is no prima facie evidence of foul play.

£
between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. 6.50
between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. 10.75

(e) For rendering a full written report in any of the above circumstances, if required, an additional fee of: £6.50.

(f) To examine and report on a candidate for the police force or a prospective employee of the police authority, or on a pension proposal: £6.90.

(g) If an examination, including the making of notes at the time, or assistance to the police in any of the above circumstances takes more than one hour.

  • between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.……£6.10 per hour or part of an hour after the first hour
  • between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m.……£10.25 per hour or part of an hour after the first hour.

(h) All the fees quoted in the above schedule as applying between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. also apply after 12 noon on Saturdays, and throughout Sundays and Bank Holidays.

(i) The car mileage rate allowance to be that applicable to medical practitioners undertaking part-time work for local authorities, i.e. 12.3p a mile.