Private Fees for Non-NHS Services

 

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The NHS provides certain services which GPs offer and for which we are paid to offer by the NHS.

However, there are many things which patients request from GPs which are not covered by this. GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients. However, we undertake some work as we appreciate that this service is valuable and of use to patients. Non-NHS services are chargeable.

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

  • Accident/sickness insurance certificates
  • Private medical insurance reports
  • Statements of fact relating to general health e.g. fit to run a marathon
  • Holiday cancellation claim forms
  • Referral for private care forms (i.e. BUPA forms, Vitality forms)

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

  • Medical reports for an insurance company
  • Some reports for the DSS/benefits agency
  • Examinations of occupational health
  • Requests from solicitors for patient record
 

How long does it take for a GP to complete private work?

The turnaround time for specific requests is listed in our services tab on the page.

Our GP’s are busy providing medical services to patients under the NHS contract. Private work is undertaken outside of or in addition to NHS time, which may be scarce for personal or professional reasons. We will try our hardest to turn around private work as efficiently as possible, but we cannot guarantee the work will always be done as rapidly as a patient hopes.

 

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.

 

Private Fees

The table below lists the charges that this practice applies from 1st May 2022. In order to be fair to all patients, there are no exceptions to the charges.

Service

Fee Payable

Simple statement of fact Doctor’s letter

  • Turnaround time: Up to 10 working days
 £30.00

Private Medical Certificate

GP letter prior to 7 days sickness

  • Turnaround time: Up to 10 working days
 £30.00

Fitness to travel

Short certificate or letter

  • Turnaround time: Up to 10 working days
 £30.00

Private Incapacity, accident or sickness certificate

Including school fees and holiday insurance certificates

  • Turnaround time: Up to 15 working days
 £30.00

Private medical/insurance form completion ie BUPA/Vitality

If you have not previously consulted with us about this issue, you will need to book a GP appointment

  • Turnaround time: Up to 15 working days

£30.00 - form only

£60.00 - form and appointment

Firearms licensing check

  • Turnaround time: Up to 15 working days
 £30.00

Fitness for sports event – no exam (check what your form states - if it asks us to examine, you must come in)

  • Single telephone appointment with GP Partner 
 £30.00

Fitness for sports event with exam required

  • Single face to face appointment with GP Partner
 £60.00

Adoption Medical Forms

  • AH1 Form = Triple face to face appointment (30m) with a GP to be booked

AH1 Form: £76.30

Adoption Medical Forms

  • AH2 Form = Single face to face appointment (10m) with a GP to be booked
 AH2 Form: £24.36

Taxi/DVLA/TFL medicals

  • Double face to face appointment (20m) with a GP to be booked – patient to bring form with them
 £90.00

Subject Access Requests (Requests for copies of full medical records)

  • Turnaround time is within 28 days from the date of request
 There may be a fee. The secretarial team will advise on this.

Other important information:

  • We do not offer appointments to test for patient’s blood groups. If you need this information, you can either a) donate blood, b) arrange a private blood test, c) if you have previously had a major operation/been pregnant, please contact the respective hospital.
  • If you are seeking a Hepatitis B vaccination for work purposes, please obtain this vaccination through your employer via an Occupational Health service. This is not a service that we are able to provide to our patients.
  • Our GPs do not provide a passport signing service.
 

What if I cannot afford to pay a fee?

The practice recognises that many of our patients may have significant financial difficulties and would not wish to increase their financial stress. For this reason the practice offers two levels of support:

  1. Provide the patient with a summary of their medical record including key diagnosis and current medications as previously recorded and read coded in their medical record. There is no charge for this level of support.
  2. Provide a specific letter or report to patients for a fee.

Whilst we understand the financial pressures patients may be experiencing, we receive a high volume of these requests and set all of our fees based on the time the GP takes to complete the work, so that we are equitable to all patients and our doctors. We are not able to negotiate our rates or offer reduced prices.