What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on low income and disabled people of GP practices charging fees for supporting letters, including letters required to access suitable or social housing?
GP practices in Wales hold General Medical Services (GMS) contracts with Local Health Boards. The GMS contract defines the NHS services that practices are required to provide.
Requests for supporting letters, reports or professional opinions for third parties, including those required for suitable or social housing applications, fall outside the scope of the GMS contract. GPs may charge fees for these non-contractual services.
Previous administrations did not undertake specific assessments of the impact of such charges on low income or disabled people, but in line with our commitment to addressing health inequalities we will keep the option of doing so under consideration. Patients also have a statutory right to access information held within their medical records, including through a Subject Access Request, free of charge.