Benefits Reform – Requests for GP letters

The Benefits System is undergoing major changes and we are aware thisis impacting on many of our patients.

GPs provide medical care to their patients and are not in a positionto administer nor to police the benefits system. It is not appropriate for theGP to be asked for letters of support or letters to confirm housing or careneeds.

GPs are not contracted or resourced to provide this service and do nothave the capacity to do so. Time taken up with paperwork is time taken awayfrom direct patient care. There are contractual and agreed methods for GPs toprovide medical information to the Department for Work and Pensions, LocalCouncils and other agencies. These are sent to the GP practice and GPs responddirectly to the departments requesting information.

 Therefore we cannot respond directly to requests from patients for“letters of support”.

 If you have been told by any agency to obtain such a letter from your GPthen please ask at reception for a copy of this information which you can thengive to the department and/or organisation which has told you to get a GPletter.