Services which are outwith the NHS Contract
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority of people free of charge, but there are exceptions. GPs are self-employed and are contracted to provide NHS general medical services for their patients.
Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services which fall outside their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them.
Charges for Patients for NON- NHS Services
( Fees are subject to change)
Vehicle/Sports Medical etc
HGV, LGV, PCV, elderly, taxi, racing driver fitness, diving, pilot
| Full medical and report | Full medical and report | £120.00 inclusive of VAT |
Claim forms/Reports/Certificates
| Accident/sickness insurance claim form | paid by patient | £30.00 not vatable |
| Report for employer re: duties at work | paid by patient | £30.00 not vatable |
| Documentation of RTA for claiming purposes | paid by patient | £30.00 not vatable |
| Fitness for sports, school, university, etc | paid by patient/insurer | £30.00 incl. VAT |
| Private Letter | paid by patient | £30.00 incl. VAT |
| Private sick note | paid by patient/employer | £14.50 not vatable |
| Freedom from infection certificate | paid by patient | £14.50 + VAT |
Access to Medical Records
| Request for Medical Records | (No charge, however excessive requests may be charged) | £0.00 |
Pre-Employment Medicals
| Full medical and report (45mins) | paid by employer | £164.50 + VAT |
| Record extract/no examination | paid by employer | £55.00 + VAT |
| Report re: duties at work | paid by employer | £30.00 not vatable |
Accident or Insurance Reports
| Full report/no examination | paid by insurer | £79.20 |
| Supplementary GP report | paid by insurer | £20.20 |
| Examining own patient | paid by insurer | £87.10 |
Travel
Course of vaccinations for travel abroad – please ask at Reception for details of vaccines/charges
| Holiday cancellation | paid by patient/insurer | £30.00 not vatable |
| Fitness to travel certificate | paid by patient | £30.00 incl. VAT |
| Private prescription for drugs required solely for purpose of travel abroad | paid by patient | £14.50 not vatable |
Your questions answered
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority people free of charge, but there are exceptions: 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.
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 to do non-medical work 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.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
- accident/sickness insurance certificates
- certain travel vaccinations
- private medical insurance reports
- statements of fact relating to general health e.g. for children’s dance classes
- Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
- Holiday cancellation claim forms
- Referral for private care 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
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 can I do to help?
- If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once.
- Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight
Examples of Non-NHS Services include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance Claim Forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private Sick Notes
- Vaccination Certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and Practice Reception Staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.