Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
Housing Letters and other letters
Insurance claim forms
Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
Private sick notes
Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

We will need sight of any forms in advance to enable us advice on fees and assess any specific requirements.

Please note that sometimes we may not be able complete a form and may advise you accordingly.

To facilitate non-NHS requests we may require up to 10 working days and sometimes longer depending on availability of appointment when we are required to see you to complete a form. These requests are considered clinically not urgent.

GP Fees – Why GPs sometimes charge fees?

Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS.

They are self-employed and they have to cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work, the fees charged by GPs contribute towards their costs.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment.

In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work.

Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to ensure that information provided to them is true and accurate.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their own NHS patients:

accident or sickness certificates for insurance purposes
school fee and holiday insurance certificates
reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise
Various letters (e.g fit to travel, housing etc)

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions:

life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in connection with disability living allowance and attendance allowance
medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering

Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?

With certain limited exceptions, for example a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients.

Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms, for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients.

Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.

I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?

When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true.

In order to complete even the simplest of forms, therefore, the doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the Police.

What will I be charged?

GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and what the fee will be. Your request will be assessed and you will be advised of any charges, time frames (usually 10 working days) and requirements (if an appointment is necessary) in advance. It is practice policy to ensure payment is received in advance. This was introduced to eliminate requests for letters and reports which were later not required or not collected, yet precious GP time had been expended on them

A list of suggested fees is AVAILABLE IN RECEPTION. A copy can be requested by email or by making a request at Reception.

What can I do to help?

Not all documents need a signature by a doctor. You can ask another person in a position of trust to sign such documents free of charge.
If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your GP if he or she is prepared to complete them at the same time to speed up the process.
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. Urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this will cost more and sometimes we may not be able to facilitate your request.