Private fees (Non-NHS work) – Information for patients and third parties
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.
The BMA (British Medical Association) suggest fees for non-NHS work, which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients and third parties in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up the individual doctor to decide how much to charge.
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 complete this work outside of and in addition to their normal hours.
At West Street Surgery our GPs aim to assist patients but cannot guarantee how quickly they can turnaround requests.
I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?
When a GP 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 GP might have to check a patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate reporting can have serious consequences for the GP with the General Medical Council (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the police.
A list of our current fees is provided below
All fees must be paid in advance of work being completed and supplied.
We accept credit card and payment by BACS only. We do not accept cash or cheques.
We reserve the right to suspend, extend processing times for private/non-NHS work at any time due to busy periods.
| Service | Who pays | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Access to records and copying ees | ||
| Medical summary – Electronic | Patient | £25.00 |
| Copy of full medical records – Electronic | Patient | £50.00 |
| Copy of full medical records – Paper Additional cost per sheet of paper Additional cost is requesting recorded delivery | Patient | £50.00 £0.50 £6.00 |
| Copy of pathology results | Patient | £5.00 |
| Certificates, forms and letters | ||
| Letters of fact to support claims such as: housing, school, college, etc | Patient | £30.00 |
| Adoption and fostering | Parent or agency | £90.00 – £150.00 |
| Childminder health forms (OFSTED) | The intended childminder, the person in charge or the employer | £90.00 |
| Firearm/shotgun certificate – Grant | Patient | £70.00 |
| Firearm/shotgun certificate – Renewal | Patient | £60.00 |
| Private prescription | Patient | £45.00 |
| Passport/Driving licence signature (Must have known for over, GP discretion) | Patient / parent | £15.00 |
| Employment | ||
| Request for report by employer/occupational health | Patient or employer | £105.00 |
| Private sick note (periods within 7 days) | Patient | £30.00 |
| Probation service | Service | £30.00 |
| Armed forces medicals | Employer or patient | £65.00 |
| Travel | ||
| CAMP America / BUNAC forms | Patient | £30.00 |
| Letter to take medication abroad | Patient | £30.00 |
| Fitness to travel | Patient | £50.00 |
| Fitness to travel with examination | Patient | £150.00 |
| Holiday cancellation cert (excluding examination) | Patient | £65.00 |
| Holiday cancellation cert (with examination) | Patient | £150.00 |
| Driving | ||
| Private medical examinations HGV, PSV, Taxi, Driving medicals – (Subject to GP availability) *Patients making appointments for HGV/Taxi medicals should bring their form, a urine sample and their glasses if worn. | Patient or employer | £150.00 |
| Forklift medical / crane operator medical | Patient or employer | £130.00 |
| DVLA medical over 75’s | Patient | £60.00 |
| DVLA examination | Patient | £85.00 |
| Taxi licence medical renewal form | Patient | £95.00 |
| Insurance | ||
| Private medical/insurance form completion i.e., BUPA/PPP (Price will be based upon workload/information required) | Patient | £30.00 – £60.00 |
| Solicitors report | Solicitor | £105.00 |
| Solicitors report with examination | Solicitor | £150.00 |
| Solicitors court of protection (COP3)/lasting power of attorney (LPA) with home visit | Solicitor | £140.00 |
| Insurance full general practitioner report | Insurance company | £50.00 – £100.00 |
| Insurance full general practitioner report with examination | Insurance company | £150.00 |
| Insurance report – additional information request – following initial report | Insurance company | £30.00 |
| Other | ||
| Probation service | Service | £30.00 |
| Armed forces medicals | Patient – Armed forces | £65.00AFVF Rate |
| Blue badge report | Council | £30.00 |
| Private examination | Patient | £150.00 |