BLMC would like to remind practices that this is entirely optional work with no contractual or professional obligation on practices to provide the service; the BLMC does not believe that it is appropriate for any CCG to advise that practices prioritise carrying out these medicals, should a practice chose to do them, ahead of clinically necessary and contracted activity. Prioritising of workload is entirely a matter for individual practices.
BLMC would also like to remind practices that a fee is payable for this work under the collaborative arrangements and all requests for these medical reports/examinations must be accompanied by a medical fee claim form signed by the requesting social worker/local authority agent. Practices should set their own private professionals fees for this work and ensure that they have written confirmation in advance that the requestor will honour their fees and payment terms; this will then constitute a legally binding contract between the parties. Should the requestor refuse to accept a practice’s reasonable professional fee then the practice should decline to carry out the work and inform the local authority accordingly. It is the local authority’s responsibility to arrange independent medical examination should a GP practice decline to carry out adoption medicals.