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.)
- Insurance claim forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private sick notes
- Vaccination certificates
- To Whom It May Concern Letter (straightforward support statement of fact)
The charges are based on British Medical Association (BMA) recommended charges to patient for work, which may be done by a GP. Our staff will be happy to advise you further on non-NHS services available, arrangements and charges. Here is a list of basic fees.
Please note – from 1.10.2020 the fees below will apply
Non-NHS Fees
The following is a list of Non-NHS Services/Medical forms, the GP’s at Nuffield House Surgery DO NOT undertake:
- Lighter Life/Weight Watchers/Weight management Programmes
- Pilot (light aircraft)
- Passport Application/Renewal
- Personal or Employment reference
- Shotgun Licence
Non-urgent advice:
Please note: Above list not a complete list of Non-NHS Services/Medical forms. GPs do not have a contractual obligation to complete Non-NHS ServicesMedical forms.
Why do GPs charge fees?
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 isn’t covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies, claims on private health insurance and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records.
The NHS pays the doctor for specific NHS work, but for non NHS 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.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their patients: - Certain travel vaccinations
- Private medical insurance reports
- Holiday cancellation forms
- Referral for private care forms
- Letters requested by or on behalf of, the patient
- In certain instances fitness to work 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 local authority employees
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/her patients. Most GPs have a very heavy workload – the majority of GPs work up to 60 hours a week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. In addition non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.
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. Therefore in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor needs to check the patient’s entire record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor, with the General Medical Council or even the Police