Non NHS Private Fees

 

Some services provided fall outside the scope of the NHS and therefore attract charges.

Our reception staff will be happy to advise you about appointment availability and applicable charges which are in line with BMA recommendations. 

If you make a request for a private, non-NHS service letter, this is not provided for under the terms of the NHS Primary Care Services contract. Your GP may be able to undertake such work for you, but, as this is a private service, you will incur a charge for completion of your request and the decision whether they can provide the letter rests with the GP.

We will only complete factual responses. We cannot give an opinion. 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. 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.

Examples of documents we are unable to provide include:

  • Confirmation of address or other proof of residence or ID (We have no means of verifying this)
  • Countersigning passport applications
  • Letters stating something that is not supported by your medical record
  • Fitness to fly or travel letters
  • Fitness for sport of leisure activities

If in doubt we will refuse to complete the request and may issue a copy of medical records instead with your consent.

A GP’s NHS work must take priority. Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients. All GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of our time and detracts from providing essential NHS care to our patients.
Please be aware we charge for any requests. Please see below for our full scale of charges. Payment will be requested before the letter is released.

If you wish to proceed, we will usually commit to complete the work that you have requested within 28 working days from the date of submission. Should this not be possible, for example due to GP holidays or requests for a larger than normal piece of work, our staff will contact you.

Non-NHS Fee List

Medical Records

  • Medication List/Proof: FREE
  • Copy of Medical Records (SARS): FREE
    • The SAR request is free for records not previously requested.
    • If the request is for records already issued then there will a preparation and administrative charge.
    • We will send the records via encrypted email OR could be copied on patient's USB disk as our preferred means.
    • To protect your confidentiality, we will not post your records.
    • Complete a SARS Request and allow28 days for us this process this

Letters, Forms, Reports & Certificates

  • Fire Arms Report: £104
  • Fire Arms Renewal: £60
  • Referral Change from NHS to private: £10
  • To whom it may concern letters: £50 (could be more depending on time required)
  • Simple Form/pre-drafted letter: £35
  • Insurance Claim Form (Simple 1 page): £20
  • Police Pre-employment Form: £75-£150
  • Life Expectancy: £150

Medicals

  • HGV, Taxi Medicals and DVLA report with examination: £150 
  • Seatbelt Exemption: £80 
  • Employment Medicals: £130
  • Child Medicals (under 16y): £20
  • To whom it may concern letter: £50 (could be more depending on time required)
  • Private Consultation: £901
  • Expediting any of the above: £50

1 In addition to the consultation fee, there may be additional costs for prescription and referrals to other medical professionals.

Travel

  • Travelling with medication letter: £35
  • Holiday Cancellation: £85 

Ofsted

  • Ofsted Form with Medical: £90

Expediting any of the above will incur an additional £50.

Payment is required in advance ideally by BACS or card, however cash is still accepted.

Why do GPs sometimes charge fees?

Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions: prescription charges have existed since 1951, and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged. Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees; in other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies.

Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that 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 fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, 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 be sure that information provided is true and accurate.

Can you give examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients:

  • accident/sickness insurance certificates
  • certain travel vaccinations
  • private medical insurance reports

Can you give examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions:

  • medical reports for an insurance company
  • some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
  • examinations of local authority employees
  • DS 1500 Form (Disability Living/Attendance Allowance)

Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?

The BMA suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under a GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested.

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 – the majority work up to 70 hours a week – 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 or even the Police.

What will I be charged?

The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up to the individual doctor to decide how much to charge, but the BMA produces lists of suggested fees which many doctors use. Surgeries often have lists of fees on the waiting room wall based on these suggested fees.

What can I do to help?

  • Not all documents need signature by a doctor, for example passport applications. 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 all at once as a (job lot) at a reduced price.
  • Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. You should expect the form(s) to take up to 4 weeks for the GP to complete and return

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