A new debt and mental health form and process has just been introduced following a cross sector agreement with the BMA. New BMA guidance was been published on 1st October 2019 and a much shorter form has been introduced that can be completed by a wider range of healthcare professionals, thereby reducing the burden on GPs. As part of the agreement, GPs in England can no longer charge a fee for completing a DMHEF. The only contractual requirement is to answer Yes or No when asked when the indebted person has a mental health condition and if the answer is Yes, then to give the name of this condition.

There is no obligation or expectation to complete the reverse of the form. All forms and guidance are available on the Money Advice Trust website. 

In response, Richard Vauteray said: "We want to empower patients by encouraging the use of self-certification and reduce the need for GP practice involvement in these situations, but we hope that, where that's not possible, this updated form will now make things quicker and easier for those to get the help they need and deserve.