Facts
We know that most GP surgeries charge for a doctor's letter. When students need a doctor's letter when they apply for mitigation, a GP surgery will usually make a charge as this does not constitute part of the GP's core work. Prices for letters can range from £10.00 to £45.00 and it can take longer than 5 working days to receive the letter from the point of requesting one.
Impact
The impact of this issue is the cost placed upon students to evidence their mitigation claim, forcing student presenteeism rather than getting well during unexpected times of illness, or having to build the cost of a doctor's letter into already limited budgets. In addition there is a further impact in the time it can take to receive a letter as they are usually not available at the time of the appointment and need to be paid for upon collection.
Action
We call on Leeds Beckett University to relax the requirement for doctor's letters for mitigation or, where one is required by the University, to reimburse students for the cost incurred.
Benefit
The benefit to students is either that there is no requirement for these letters in the first place, or that they are reimbursed for the cost incurred by the University's own requirements.