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Non-NHS Services
Chargeable Services
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions such as prescription charges. The NHS does not employ GPs but has a contract with them to provide NHS general medical services for their patients. Sometimes, however, GPs are asked to provide additional services, which fall outside their contract with the NHS, and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them. It is up to the individual practice to decide how much to charge, although the BMA produces lists of suggested fees for the Doctors to use as a guideline.
GPs are regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC). When a GP signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition that they only sign what is true and correct. By signing the form or letter a GP is taking responsibility for the information given. This means that the GP may have to check a patient's entire medical record and this can take some time. It is therefore not possible for a GP to complete a form or report at short notice and we ask that you are mindful of this when making your request. Due to a number of factors, it may not be possible for us to provide a definitive completion date for private work requests but we will aim for 30 working days after payment has been received.
It is worth remembering that not all documents need a signature by a doctor. For example, you could ask another person in a position of trust, who may be willing to sign a passport application free of charge (Teacher, Accountant, etc). If you have several forms requiring completion, please present them all at the same time. You can also complete the form to the best of your ability in pencil, so the doctor just has to quickly verify your entries against the information held by the practice.
Charges at Hanham Health
At Hanham Health Group we have a list of fees available at reception. If you want your GP to complete a report or form, which falls outside the GP’s contract with the NHS, please ask for the form at reception.
You will then be contacted via SMS by a member of our team confirming the applicable fee and payment instructions. You will be contacted again once work has been completed and paperwork is ready for collection.
Private fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Private Sick Note | £40 |
| Private Prescriptions | £40 |
| Holiday Cancellation Form/Bupa/ Camp America | £40 |
| Letter To Whom It May Concern | £40 |
| Elderly Fitness to Drive – Medical Examination and Report | £135 |
| Elderly Fitness to Drive – Report without Examination | £60 |
| Shotgun Licence Certificate / Character Reference | £70 |
| HIV Test – Counselling and blood taking (NO Medical) | £50 |
| HIV Testing at Insurer’s Request (Medical Examination, Counselling and Diagnostics) | £135 |
| Other short Government Forms e.g. Disability Living Allowance etc | £50 |
| All other requests/forms/ letters etc. | £40 |
| Medical Examination for work/ sport e.g. Diving / Pilot / HGV / Taxi/ Insurance Companies /Fostering | £150 |
| Insurance Company GP Medical Report – Extract from notes (no medical examination) | £104 |
| Insurance Company GP Supplementary Report | £50 |
| Ofsted Form (no examination) | £100 |
Frequently asked questions
Read our FAQs about non-NHS and private services.
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.
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