Medical Examinations: Foster Care
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering potential foster carers the required health assessment free of charge on the NHS.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
Foster carers must undergo a full assessment and be approved by a fostering service provider before any child can be placed in their care. This includes a medical assessment. These assessments are not part of the GP contract with the National Health Service.
When asked to assist with medical evidence reports, there are some letters, certificates, or reports that general practices may charge for, and other certificates that they must not charge for. This is set out in law through the General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Regulations, which form the basis of the GP contract with the NHS.
The Department for Education sets out National Minimum Standards for fostering, and costs for caring may be covered by local authorities or fostering agencies.
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