Medical certificate for shotgun licence renewal

[Pan mixer]

I was a bit surprised to find that I had to get one of these for my next renewal, did everyone else know about the change in law? or is it just me?

 

[Grassman]

It's nothing new. What will perhaps surprise you is your doctor may refuse to do one for you!

 

[Badshot]

I believe basc has a few drs that will do it if your own refuses.

 

[Swarfmonkey]

BASC has a reference list of doctors who will do the paperwork for you. They'll need your full records though, which you can get under a SAR. My older brother had to go down that route as the GP surgery he's registered with has decided that it's "morally opposed to firearms ownership".

 

[Kidds]

Cost of the medical letter will be the next surprise.

 

[JP1]

Cost of the medical letter will be the next surprise.

£85 same as a desk based HGV I bet

 

[Loftyrules]

If you're a BACS member they have a new scheme for medical letters

 

[California]

I didn't know about it. Reminder arrived mid-December. I looked at the renewal date, thought "late March 2020", I'll do that in the new year.
Looked in the new year and found that I couldn't even apply until I had a letter from the doctor. Also I was supposed to complete my application at least 12 weeks in advance of the renewal date.
Dropped the letter at the doctors and was called back to say that I needed an appointment and it was going to cost £50 which effectively doubled the renewal cost.
Made an appoinment (no doubt taking one away from someone who is actually sick), sat down. Doctor looked at my notes, said "I can see that you're fine." then signed and dated the letter (he didn't have to actually write the letter) along with "please pay the girls on your way out" (cash, no cards!) In and out in a couple of minutes so all in all a bit of a waste of time and money from my perspective.
Actual renewal was fairly easy and online. You need to have a digital passport type photo, a card to pay and details of your referee (including birth place etc) but no more faffing around getting photos signed by specific profession people like in the old days. Much easier than paper forms, you didn't even need a physical signature. Only thing is you need your passport photo before you complete the form as it needs to be submitted immediately afterwards. I didn't realise this first time so had to re-do it all the next day as you can't save it.

 

[nick...]

Doctors will just do it to gain a bit of cash.think it cost me £40 in early 90s when I started road racing.
Nick...

 

[Kidds]

£85 same as a desk based HGV I bet

My doctor wanted £120. I haven’t seen a doctor in 16 years so how would he even know if I was fit to have one.
I didn’t send a letter and ticket duly arrived anyway although I don’t think it would now. They insist now but varies from force to force I believe.

 

[Loftyrules]

 

[farmerm]

I hope those in possession of illegal weapons also have to jump though these hoops I do like a nice certificate though... I see my local force issues Explosive Certificates for up to 15kg for free... if I get one of those can I go hunting with frag grenades and sticks of TNT'?

 

[Princess Pooper]

I didn't know about it. Reminder arrived mid-December. I looked at the renewal date, thought "late March 2020", I'll do that in the new year.
Looked in the new year and found that I couldn't even apply until I had a letter from the doctor. Also I was supposed to complete my application at least 12 weeks in advance of the renewal date.
Dropped the letter at the doctors and was called back to say that I needed an appointment and it was going to cost £50 which effectively doubled the renewal cost.
Made an appoinment (no doubt taking one away from someone who is actually sick), sat down. Doctor looked at my notes, said "I can see that you're fine." then signed and dated the letter (he didn't have to actually write the letter) along with "please pay the girls on your way out" (cash, no cards!) In and out in a couple of minutes so all in all a bit of a waste of time and money from my perspective.
Actual renewal was fairly easy and online. You need to have a digital passport type photo, a card to pay and details of your referee (including birth place etc) but no more faffing around getting photos signed by specific profession people like in the old days. Much easier than paper forms, you didn't even need a physical signature. Only thing is you need your passport photo before you complete the form as it needs to be submitted immediately afterwards. I didn't realise this first time so had to re-do it all the next day as you can't save it.

I'm in same timeframe - shotgun renewal due end March and downloaded form yesterday so this had me panicking. But having checked form I do not have to send a letter - just give permission for police to contact my GP. There is also nothing in the renewal letter about a letter from GP. Does this vary between forces then? I am in Leicestershire and have always found them very good to deal with on firearms/shotgun issues.

 

[Campbell]

The Donald agrees, it's a God given right to have as many guns as you need to defend yourself................

 

[JP1]

I'm in same timeframe - shotgun renewal due end March and downloaded form yesterday so this had me panicking. But having checked form I do not have to send a letter - just give permission for police to contact my GP. There is also nothing in the renewal letter about a letter from GP. Does this vary between forces then? I am in Leicestershire and have always found them very good to deal with on firearms/shotgun issues.

It certainly does

 

[CornishTone]

I'm in same timeframe - shotgun renewal due end March and downloaded form yesterday so this had me panicking. But having checked form I do not have to send a letter - just give permission for police to contact my GP. There is also nothing in the renewal letter about a letter from GP. Does this vary between forces then? I am in Leicestershire and have always found them very good to deal with on firearms/shotgun issues.

Just reapplied for my shotgun and FAC (surrendered them when we moved abroad) and my application says the same thing, just asks permission to speak to them. Good luck getting a clean bill of health from my Australian dr, only saw him once I think, when we registered. My UK Dr hasn't seen me for years. Will wait and see what comes back!

 

[neilo]

I'm in same timeframe - shotgun renewal due end March and downloaded form yesterday so this had me panicking. But having checked form I do not have to send a letter - just give permission for police to contact my GP. There is also nothing in the renewal letter about a letter from GP. Does this vary between forces then? I am in Leicestershire and have always found them very good to deal with on firearms/shotgun issues.

That’s what Dyfed Powys wanted too. Still had a bill from the doctor for £60 though.

As I still look the same as I did when I was 21, I sent a spare passport photo that I found in the drawer. Plod must have had CID on the job though, as they noticed it was an exact copy of the one I sent in for the last renewal.? Firearms officer that came out to inspect just had instructions to take a photo with his phone instead.

 

[Dry Rot]

Changed days. Back in the 1970's, Grampian Police volunteered the information that they would fast track firearms applications for my visiting sportsmen in ten days!

I won't bother to catalogue my experiences with the police here because I think they made mistakes at every stage of the proceedings, including returning my guns after that had issued me with incorrect paperwork so I wasn't actually authorised to possess guns at all! That's what happens when those who pay their wages don't complain about incompetence.

 

[Princess Pooper]

I've just renewed my driving licence (photocard) which can all be done online, you give them permission to use your passport photo ie you don't need to send a new one in. I'm waiting to see if there is a hiccup as my passport photo is the same as the one on my 'old' driving licence. ie taken 10 years ago. (My passport runs out in 9 months).

 

[egbert]

Aside from the current 'letters, and their costs' debate,
it concerns me that should I go to the quack and say i was depressed, does the quack automatically then phone the local nick, and get my FAC pulled?
If I were concerned, i might very well decide not to see the quack for that reason.
(I don't care much for firearms, and regard them as no more than a useful tool .....and I can't envisage feeling the need to talk to my GP about my mental state)

How much responsibility is she expected to take - I believe my quack is a she, although I haven't troubled her for some years-?
Is she responsible for my actions in some way?
Sounds a bit of a burden to me.