It will now be a contractual requirement for GPs to complete a Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF), for patients who have a mental health condition. GPs in England can no longer charge a fee for completing the DMHEF.
Patients are encouraged to self-certify and creditors to accept self-certification, there are also a range of other professionals who can complete the form including:
- Social workers
- Mental health nurses
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Occupational therapists
- Mental health therapists
The DMHEF form, which is also accompanied by a consent form, asks for the professional to confirm the person has mental health condition and name the ailment. Healthcare professionals should not complete the DMHEF form without receiving the consent form from the indebted person giving their permission for this to happen.
If a situation arises whereby a more complex health report is required by a bank or other lender, those reports should be sought directly from the practice by a lender and the lender would pay an appropriate fee, not the patient.
The latest version of the forms can be found here and the accompanying consent form is available here. Further guidance is available on the Money Advice Trust website, with specific information for the public, debt advisors, lenders and healthcare professionals.
Last updated : 20 Nov 2019