SxS Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) My other half recently took a trip out with me to break some clays and is now considering a SGC application. Checking on the fees, I was surprised to come across an apparent change to Cheshire's application process from when I applied. It seems like they're now asking applicants (and those seeking renewals) to complete a supplementary letter for GPs for the police to then send on to Doctors (see link:https://www.cheshire.police.uk/media/80964/shotgun-and-firearms-grant-gp-letter.pdf ) that includes the following: "I have requested the applicant to obtain a report from you which should contain factual medical information about his declared condition, or any other condition, you may be aware of that is relevant, and has not been declared" (underline mine) "Once completed the report should be passed to the applicant for submission to the Firearms Licensing Unit. The question of payment should be dealt with between you and your patient" Putting aside the fact that passing the report to the applicant to then send on to the FLU seems like a really bad idea, curious as to whether this is this an attempt by Cheshire to try and make the medical report a prerequisite for grant/renewal? This sort of letter is not mentioned in any other guidance I've seen and also seems to be at odds with the more normal approach of the Police (not the applicant, who historically just consents to the release of data) requesting a report from the GP. Being pedantic, the guidance on their website states that "To apply for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate, you should complete the following forms:" (underline mine!) not that you must complete both the 201 plus this new letter. Has anyone been through the process recently in Cheshire and encountered this letter and/or discussed it with their FEO? If so, would be interested in hearing how it went and what the FEO's position was regarding the letter/medical records in general. Edited January 4, 2017 by SxS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kody Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 You fill form out giving your GPS details they contact your doc to let him /her know your applying for a SGC your doctor makes a note of this And if plod don't hear nothing back at 21 days ticket goes ahead A load of .... To me but there we go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SxS Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 That's what I had understood the process was, but Cheshire seem to be trying to do something different... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 That's what I had understood the process was, but Cheshire seem to be trying to do something different... Are you in BASC ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Time to bring this sort of thing to the attention of your shooting organisation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kody Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Its all to deter applicants from renewing and applying hoping its to much bother Get guns off the street is what they want Load of dung It states on the form already do suffer from depression etc if no then there is no need for plod to contact your doctor No dam wonder there is a backlog I'm sick of all this Wish I was in the USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trippyhippy Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Just going through a renewal with Cheshire Firearms and the letter I got said, If you declare a relevant medical condition then you will need to obtain a medical report, please refer to the notes pages of the application form. A letter is enclosed for you to complete with your personal details and you should hand this letter to your GP surgery, when you have received the report please enclose it with your application. PLEASE NOTE YOU ONLY REQUIRE A MEDICAL REPORT IF YOU ARE DECLARING A RELEVANT MEDICAL CONDITION. And it is all in caps like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SxS Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thanks Trippyhippy - interesting that the message in the renewal letter is slightly closer to the normal position, although still odd that they want the applicant to get the report and then forward it rather than follow the normal process (and requesting it themselves). Wonder what they expect applicant to do if they turn out to have a non-cooperative or expensive GP? Rest assured, OH will be joining BASC or CA before applying and (unless advised otherwise by them) will be submitting a "by the book" application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trippyhippy Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Just looked again at the form "bored at work waiting to be tipped" https://www.cheshire.police.uk/media/86011/shotgun-form-form-201.pdf And in the notes bit Number 7 it says, If you have disclosed a relevant medical condition the police may ask you to obtain a medical report from your GP/specialist. You are expected to meet the cost if a fee is charged for this. If further information is required the police may request and pay for a further report. So it only says may. I would guess the best bet would be phone them and ask first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) Didn't Durham try this a while back and it got thrown out by BASC? https://basc.org.uk/blog/press-releases/latest-news/basc-says-dont-pay-medical-fee/ Guidance is here just refuse to pay GP simple Who determines if the medical condition is relevant? Could you not just request a copy of your records (set nhs fee?) and issue that to plod in its fullness? Edited January 4, 2017 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trippyhippy Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 It does list some "relevant" conditions in the notes of said form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 I'm just going through a sgc now with Cheshire. I filled the forms out except that one because I see no need for it. I don't even have a doctor anymore as he moved abroad not been since. My application for my fac last year didn't have this so why should I now?? My doctors are also rather useless to say the least. Feo is ringing me in the morning about something else so il ask him then. I certainly won't be paying any more money towards it for something that costs as much as it does to never get hold of anyone in the office and to wait a minimum of 4 months. Won't happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 It does list some "relevant" conditions in the notes of said form. Very interested to know what they are! Does David from BASC ever visit anymore or was he driven away by the pitchforks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Very interested to know what they are! Does David from BASC ever visit anymore or was he driven away by the pitchforks? Probably driven away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trippyhippy Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Very interested to know what they are! Page 13 Note 5 https://www.cheshire.police.uk/media/86011/shotgun-form-form-201.pdf Can't copy and paste pdf on phone sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 [quote name="Hendrix's rifle" post="3191910" timestamp="1483572364"I don't even have a doctor anymore,,,,,,,, Interesting how they reply, When I did mine I was told 'No Doc = no-one to contact if ... therefore we cannot .....' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrowning2 Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 The relevant part is the money side as by completing the form you now accept any and all the doctors fee's that's the game they are playing. What a mess this process is now, very soon I would guess the home office will step in and it will become the applicants responsibility to pay the doctors fee and that will be whatever the doctor wants it to be. We are being shafted the idea was we got a ten year certificate when they got access to medical records which clearly we did not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Access to the records is one thing reports are different http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2635.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=160 Online access to your GP records is free of charge. So how can a GP charge and why can't the police just access them online in the same way your drivering details are accessed now online but you requesting a code giving them authority to access them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Access to the records is one thing reports are different http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2635.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=160 Online access to your GP records is free of charge. So how can a GP charge and why can't the police just access them online in the same way your drivering details are accessed now online but you requesting a code giving them authority to access them? Exactly? And we're paying for them to get lazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Still here! Sorry very busy at work and home and not getting as much opportunity to visit forums as usual...just about to go through my renewal with Cheshire...I will be very interested to see how it goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Hi SxS, I did my renewal in November last year with Cheshire, I did not fill in the separate letter that came with the forms I just signed the front page asking for permission to contact your GP, my renewal came right on time as promised with no calls from the fld. Good luck S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 I'm with Cumbria, but there was around an extra three pages of bumf that could be completed on a voluntary basis. I didn't bother. I only fill in the relevant parts as dictated by the firearms act, nothing more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Still here! Sorry very busy at work and home and not getting as much opportunity to visit forums as usual...just about to go through my renewal with Cheshire...I will be very interested to see how it goes! Glad to see you're still around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickster Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 Hi SxS, I did my renewal in November last year with Cheshire, I did not fill in the separate letter that came with the forms I just signed the front page asking for permission to contact your GP, my renewal came right on time as promised with no calls from the fld. Good luck S Yup. I applied for a grant with Cheshire late last year and just filled in the usual standard form. If they need anything else like a Drs report they'll contact you to let you know. That GPs request is just on the website as a download for use if you're told you need to get a report. You'll be told by Cheshire that you need a GPs letter if you have declared any relevent medical conditions on your application, in which case you can print off the request letter from the website and give this to the GP. And the letter does say that you'll pay the Dr for this - as per the agreement early last year that the applicant would bear the cost of any additional medical reports that are due to declared conditions. So nothing out of the ordinary here. I had a good experience with Cheshire - very helpful FEO and quicker than their quoted 16weeks turnaround. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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