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Non-NHS Private Fees

 

Image of a nurse holding a folder in blue NHS uniform

It is unfortunate that not all of our services are covered by the NHS and therefore require us to charge a private fee.

Increasingly we are asked to provide letters, reports or certificates on behalf of patients to third parties such as insurance companies or employers, to ‘confirm’ that a patient has had a medical intervention (This is only ever provided with the appropriate consent from the patient).

In order to cover the cost of administering this request (secretarial time to type the report/certificate/letter), checking the appropriateness of the request and the doctors time to compose the letter etc. we do need to charge a fee. We aim to keep our charges reasonable, whilst endeavouring to deal with your requests in a timely manner.

Please bear in mind that these are services over and above the day to day priority of providing NHS care.

Private (non-NHS) Services

GP’s are available to perform medical examinations and provide certificates for a range of requirements for a fee. Examples include examinations and reports for HGV/taxi licensing, holiday insurance certificates and medical consultations for non-NHS patients.

List of Services we Provide Privately as of 1st January 2022

 

Access to Notes (GDPR) Access Fee

  • Computer Only (Minimum) - First Request - Free
  • Duplicate Request (same data) - £10.00 plus 38p a side
 

Adoption

  • Parents' Medical Report - Same as letters/reports misc level 3 (If not set by the company)
 

Army Medical Report

  • Same as letters/reports misc level 3 - £72.00
 

Court of Protection Order

  • Court of Protection Order Assessment - £140.00
 

Certificate

  • See Letters (simple) - £28.00
 

Driving

  • Elderly Drivers Medical - £110.00
  • LGV/PSV/HGV Medical - £110.00
  • Driving Licence - Form and Photo (at GP's discretion) - £28.00
  • DVLA Report - £44.00
 

Department of Work and Pensions

  • DS 1500 Dept. of Work and Pensions - £17.00
  • DWP DLA Factual Report - £33.50
 

Extra Information Request

  • Extra Information Request (follow-up) - £28.00
 

Firearms

  • Firearms Licence (Fee paid by the patient) - £60.00
 

Fitness to Travel Certificate / letter

  • Without Examination - £28.00
  • With Examination - £75.00
 

Forms

  • Small Forms - Bus Pass / Travel Medication / Council Tax etc.) - £28.00
  • Medium Forms - (Housing Report / Claim forms / Holiday Cancellation / Ofsted /School fees/ University etc.) - £44.00
 

Fostering Medical

  • Initial - £77.00
  • Further Information - £32.00
 

Freedom from infection certificate (without examination and tests)

  • Freedom from infection certificate (without examination and tests) - £28.00
 

HIV Test (Private)

  • HIV Test (Private) - £46.00
 

Holiday Cancellation Certificate

  • Holiday Cancellation Certificate (report) - £44.00
 

Insurance Forms

  • Insurance Forms (medium) - Patients request (Claim forms / Holiday canc.) - £44.00
  • Insurance Forms (medium) - Company request/level 3 letters - £72.00
  • Subsequent Form - £28.00
 

Letters

  • Letters miscellaneous - Level 1 - £28.00
    • e.g. simple statements of fact e.g. (TWIMC / Ofsted / University)
  • Letters miscellaneous - Level 2 - £44.00
    • e.g. professional opinion required inc. housing, Holiday cancellation, school fees
  • Letters/Reports miscellaneous - Level 3 - £72.00
    • e.g. more complicated/lengthy letters/reports (Army, adoption, Seafarers, sports medicals, fitness to exercise etc)
  • Letters/reports miscellaneous - Level 4 - £110.00
    • e.g. more complicated/lengthy letters/reports for Insurance Companies and Solicitors – £20.00 per 5 minutes with a minimum fee of £100.00
 

Medical Attendants Report (M.A.R.)

  • M.A.R (Medical Attendants Report) - £110.00
  • M.A.R (Medical Attendants Report) Extra report - £28.00
  • M.A.R (Medical Attendants Report) with Medical Exam - £178.00
 

Ofsted Childminding

  • Check and sign only - £44.00
 

Power of Attorney

  • Power of Attorney without visit - £110.00
  • Power of Attorney needing a home visit - £180.00
 

Private Prescription

  • Private Prescription, including Malaria Medication - £20.00
 

Private Consultations

  • With GP- for 10 minutes - £40.00
  • With Nurse practitioner - £30.00
  • With Practice Nurse - £20.00
 

Private Tests (For taking sample only - Hospital charge for the actual test varies)

  • Urine - £20.00
  • Blood - £20.00
  • ECG - £30.00
 

Report

  • Sickness/ Accident Report/ Certificate - Without examination - £72.00
  • Sickness/ Accident Report/ Certificate - With examination - £178.00
 

Sick Note

  • Private/ Certificate of Attendance/ School Sickness Certificate - £28.00
 

Solicitors Reports

  • Solicitors Reports - £110.00
    • £20.00 per 5 minutes with a minimum fee of £100.00
 

Taxi Medical Report

  • Taxi Medical - £110.00
 

Travel

  • Travel documents with medication - £28.00
 

Vaccinations

  • Vaccination Certificate - £28.00

Why do GPs sometimes charge fees? Your questions answered in our FAQ.

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.

Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?

With certain limited exceptions, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work. Many GPs however will always attempt to assist their patients and carry out this work.

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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