Guidance
Fitness to Fly certificates are not part of GMS contractual work, so GPs are under no obligation to issue them. If GPs decide to issue a certificate, a charge for non-NHS work can be issued to the patient.
The BMA advises caution when undertaking this type of work, as there may be medico-legal implications.
‘We discourage doctors from signing certificates which indicate that the patient will, for example,
be fit for the duration of the holiday, as current fitness is not a guide to future fitness. Doctors can only report on what is written in the patient notes, and reporting on future fitness could have medico-legal consequences for you.’
Fitness to fly assessments can be complex and may require specialist training or knowledge, especially when advising on patients with underlying chronic health conditions. GPs are not trained
or indemnified to ascertain a patient’s fitness to fly, and this does not fall within the remit of our General Medical Services contract held by the NHS.
Information that should be included in a Fit to Fly Letter:
- The nature of the individual’s condition and its severity/stability,
- Medication being taken, and
- Any pertinent information about mobility.
There are specialist private clinics that can undertake these assessments and provide the necessary certificates.
Airline Advice
Most airlines advise that “the expectant mother must provide them with a doctor’s certificate confirming their stage of pregnancy and that they are fit to fly”.
It should be noted that “doctor” refers to ANY GMC-registered doctor, which includes a GP, and also the obstetrician involved in the patient’s care.
Stanley Corner Medical Centre position on Fit to Fly Letters
Given the information requested by the airlines, the advice issued by the GMC, BMA and Medical Defence providers, and the limited information GPs hold about a patient’s pregnancy-related medical care, Stanley Corner Medical Centre is unable to issue letters/certificates stating that patients are ‘fit to fly’. Assessing whether someone can fly falls outside our area of expertise as General Practitioners (GPs).
Your hospital team will be better placed than us to inform your airline of some conditions. Pregnant women may be able to obtain the required paperwork from their obstetrician/midwife team.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority states:
‘Most airlines have medical advisors who advise and clear passengers as fit to fly. The final decision on whether or not to carry a passenger is that of the airline.
- For further information, please see the health pages on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website Health guidelines for air travel | Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk)’