I eventually wore him down: probably the phone calls, the emails and the constant "why won't you sign this" questions. He did rather act as if he was going to be paying the exemption himself. But I'll give him this: he didn't charge me to sign the form when he finally did.
But if you only have a GP and they won't sign the form, then you really are stuck because there is no other option.
It's a bit difficult, if the doctor felt in their opinion it wasn't a "severe" mental impairment then they're right not to sign, but how do you define "severe" it's a judgement call, you may feel it was the doctor doesn't, who's right?
Anyway if the doctor chargers (see Nitram's link) then I think they're in clear breech of their NHS contract:
Standard General Medical Services Contract 93
PART 17
17.1 Certificates77
17.1.1. The Contractor shall issue free of charge to a patient or his personal representative any medical certificate of a description prescribed in column 1 of the table below which is reasonably required under or for the purposes of the enactments specified in relation to the certificate in column 2 of the table below, except where, for the condition to which the certificate relates, the patient-
NHS England
Standard General Medical Services Contract 97
PART 1984
9. To support a claim by or on behalf of a severely mentally impaired person for exemption from liability to pay the Council Tax or eligibility for a discount in respect of the amount of Council Tax payable.
Specifically in Part 17 they are told what they can and cannot charge for and in part 1894, section 9 it says specifically they can't charge for supporting a claim for council tax exemption. To charge is a rule break in their NHS contract and that's potentially some serious stuff for them, specially if they've done it before!!!!
K