A CARER says she is furious after being charged £100 by her doctor to write a letter confirming her partner is housebound.

Ann Forsyth claims, Robert, 58, who is a double amputee, called Bank Street surgery in Alexandria.because he is due to appear in court this week.

The couple live in a second floor in Bonhill's Campbell Street and Robert is only able to leave when ambulance staff carry him down thirty-two steps using a special device.

He told the surgery he needed the letter to let the court know he was unable to attend the hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

But when Ann arrived to collect the letter, she says she was stunned to be told she would have to pay a £100 fee.

"I was absolutely furious because I thought it was part of the doctor's job to write such a letter," she explained.

"It was only two or three sentences long and must have taken a doctor only a minute or so to actually write. But I was told I would need to pay the money or they wouldn't give it to me.

"I had no choice but to pay up because Robert needs the letter for the court."

A distraught Ann explained Robert had both legs amputated after he moved into the Campbell Street flat when he developed diabetes.

He also suffers from the muscle wasting disease, myopathy, has difficulty swallowing and suffers from memory loss.

"When I got back from the surgery, I asked Robert if he was told the letter would cost £100 but he couldn't remember," explained Ann.

"Robert is now housebound because there are thirty-two steps down to to the street and there is no way he can manage that.

"I cannot carry him and we have no-one else to help. He only gets out every four or five weeks when he has a hospital visit.

"The ambulance staff can carry his chair and also use a special stair climber."

Robert is due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court this week (waiting for exact charge from lawyer)

Ann says he had a mild altercation with a neighbour who has now moved out of Campbell Street.

"We are worried sick what will happen to Robert if he does not attend the court," said Ann.

"It's not because he doesn't want to but he is simply unable to do so. However, the court might think he is deliberately ignoring it and I dread what action they might want to take.

"Robert is not a bad man. He had a small run in with a neighbour who has now moved away. It was nothing but now Robert could be punished simply because he is disabled and unable to leave the house."

The British Medical Association allows doctors to charge fees for what is calls 'non NHS work.'

This could include accident or sickness certificates for insurance purposes or medical reports for pregnant women wishing to fly or local authorities for adoption and fostering applications.

Doctors are not obliged to do any non NHS work and while the BMA recommends fees, doctors are free to make their own charges

Dr Neil Mackay from the Bank Street surgery said he could not discuss individual cases. However, he said the surgery made it clear requests for letters or certificates were liable to a fee.

"In general terms, most GP surgeries will charge for non NHS work, such as a certificate or a report," he explained.

"Most surgeries including our own, have a list detailing these services and charges. People are made aware at the time of the request that there may be a fee and they are told what that fee is."