Fostering Medical

[sparkieroo]

Hi Guys,

I'm really at the end of my tether, both my husband and myself applied for a foster parent medical at our GP practice 3rd August 2018 some 12 weeks later still no appointment.

The initial consent form stated it could take up to 28day, after around 5/6 weeks called to see if any news and unfortunately none, I have called (30+ calls all logged) and the receptionists have emailed the practice manager to inform her that we are still chasing the medical.

I did eventually get to speak to the PM at about 7wks but I was informed the GP is very busy and would let us know, also asked for another consent form and a letter from the fostering agency as to why we need the medical, which was delivered the following day.

At 9wks got through to PM and again to be told GP busy, when I stated it was 9wks she said "That don't make it any easier" she said she would speak to GP to find out her quieter days and would call me back, so called again that afternoon and she said she would call me towards the end of that week and guess what she still hasn’t, she's not returned any call or responded to the agency calling.

After completing a long assessment involving Social worker visits (Form F), family visits, all our references contacted, H&S home visit, training events, DBS, financial and local authority checks, and completed everything needs to meet the criteria, our panel date has been pushed back due to not having the medical which is a compulsory part of the whole process.

So two weeks ago applied for a "Subject Access Request" to have a copy of our medical records so we can go private for our medical, as part of GDPR they have 28days to respond and there is no charge.

I wrote an official request letter and also printed off all relevant information regarding this and also picked up 2 complaint forms and asked the receptionist to email her to inform her of our intentions in the hope this would gee her up...well that was 2 wks ago and still nothing, hence why I’m at the end of my tether, don’t really know what next steps to take??

[woofgang]

While I feel a lot of sympathy, its not part of the NHS services to give healthy people medicals and I for one would feel really cross if my GP was doing this instead of treating the people who are ill. I think its very wrong of social services to give prospective foster parents (who do an amazing and essential thing) the impression that they should be asking their GP for this. I hope that you get it sorted quickly and can start your new life roles soon.

[Cloverjo]

Good point by woofgang.

Why don't the social services use the medics who assess benefit claimants to do this medical?
Seems ridiculous. Don't they want unlucky kids looked after?

[woofgang]

cloverjo.....because SS ie the council have to pay those medics and it ain't cheap.

[Cloverjo]

So they'll pay the medics to 'prove' that some claimants are fit to work, but won't pay to see that someone is fit to look after a vulnerable child? Really! What is there to say about this? Appalling.

[Cloverjo]

I see, woofgang. Different departments. Can't they have some joined up thinking here?

[Pete65]

Hello, Sparkieroo,
I'm afraid I have no advice to offer you,
but I do wish you all the very best in your efforts to become foster parents.

[bednobs]

this must be a private service and as such you could go anywhere to have it done. I would ring round other surgeries and ask.
SARs are 28 working days i think, so longer than 28 days. Also it can take longer anyway and there are no sanctions to the provider

[hc4361]

It's not just a case of paying for a private medical to assess how fit you are now. The fostering authority will need to know about any past mental health issues, addictions and 'hidden' illnesses that would not be apparent in a standard medical.
Sparkieroo will have to provide access to her medical records and her GP has not yet provided them - she is prepared to pay for a private medical but needs her records first.

I hope you get it sorted soon.

[woofgang]

hc, the OP first applied for fostering medicals at her surgery. If she had asked for medical records to be passed to a private medic at the beginning, I am sure it would have been a lot faster.

[bednobs]

it seems fairly clear that the op's GP either cant or does not want to do this medical, therefore it would make sense to get it booked in elsewhere for a date when the records should be back

[hc4361]

This is a sample medical report and it clearly asks for a detailed input from the GP
https://corambaaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/Form%20AH.pdf

I would expect my GP to provide this medical, there is usually a charge for such services - around £100 for a prospective adoption/fostering medical, much the same as a HGV driver medical. It is a standard part of GP services, albeit classed as private and not NHS.

[woofgang]

Pretty silly to put that in a form IMO. GP's don't have to provide private services and if they do, don't have to be in any hurry to do so. Actually that's a pretty crackers form. The average GP in my experience wouldn't know a mental health issue from a hole in the ground and as for commenting on the prognosis of a mental health issue.....
It seems to me that that particxular organisation has concocted that form without much knowledge of how the NHS and GP services work and haven't troubled themselves to enquire as to whether GP's will be happy to be involved in this way or can realistically complete the form.

[sparkieroo]

This in not an NHS service but a service that will be paid for £120 each, our GP provides private services hence the charge, we are not asking for preferential treatment over any other patient, and to go to another Health provider ie private we require our medical records.

Our surgery took the initial request/consent form and was told would be in touch, and unfortunately it has been myself that has instigated all the contact, if we knew that after 12wks we still wouldn't have our medical I would have requested our medical records sooner.

Whist I understand some of your frustrations these medicals would be pre-booked and slotted in to quieter or other service times and not patient clinic times from what i'm lead to believe.

Also we are not fostering via local authority/social services, the medical form the GP or health provider have to complete is generic for fostering, adoption, kinship, guardianship etc..