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Non NHS Private Fees

It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self-employed and they have to cover their costs –staff, building, heating, lighting, etc. – in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work, these fees charged by GPs contribute towards their cost.

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.

Our doctors’ priority is to focus on the medical care and health needs of our NHS patients.

Writing certain letter or filling out forms is done in the doctors’ own time, outside of the day-to day care of their patients. The practice charges fees for certain medical letters, reports and certain medical examinations. These fees reflect the time spent by the doctors and administrative team and are the standard fees recommended for such work by the British Medical Association.

Further information regarding the British Medical Association fees can be found here

Please note

General Practitioners are no longer able to sign passport requests
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight: urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangement to process the form quickly, and this will cost more. Please be aware that some reports may take more time, as the doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical records. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council (GMC) or even the police.
All charges are payable in advance

List Of Charges Not Covered By NHS Services

Reports

Written report without examination

15 minutes: £40.00
30minutes: £80.00
45 minutes: £120.00

OFSTED Health Declaration Report (Childminder): £90.00

Electronic reports (iGPR): £150

To Whom it may concern letter: From £40.00

Medical Forms And Examinations

Public Carriage, HGV, Taxi, PSV, DVLA: £190.00
Private Consultation (extras for meds issued) Per 10 minutes: £130.00
Pre-Employment Medical: £133.00
Insurance Medical: £165.00
Report on a pro forma no examination: £90.00
Written detailed report without examination: £135.00
Racing Driver: £188.00
Fitness to attend School/ University: £88.00
Elderly Driver Medical and Certificate: £120.00
Seat Belt Exemption: £80.00

Access To Medical Records

Under GDPR access would be free, but admin costs would be applicable if the request is excessive

Certificates and Forms

Naturalisation Form: £40.00
Passport Applications: Service not provided
Fitness to exercise / travel letter (no medical): £40.00
Fitness to travel (with examination): £135.00
Shotgun Licence: £150.00
Seat belt exemption: £80.00
Freedom from infection certificate: £40.00
Driving licence countersignature: £40.00
Private sick note (any sick note within the first 7 days is private): £40.00
Letter to airline regarding medication etc: £40.00
Short letter to Bank / Building Society / Housing / Council etc: £40.00
Cancellation of holiday claim form: £90.00
Medical Research/Clinical Trial Questionnaires: £60.00

Adoption and Fostering

Adoption fees are usually paid by the prospective parent, sometimes by the adoption/fostering agency or authority. This needs to be established prior to your appointment

Form AH – Health assessment, Prospective Carer: £90.00
Form AH2 – Adult Health Update, Parent: £90.00
Form C, D, YP or AME (Full Child Examination): £97.91

Vaccinations and Travel Vaccinations

Hepatitis B - Child and Adult: £35.00 (per dose)
Meningitis ACWY: £40.00 (per dose)
Gardasil 9 (HPV) Vaccination: £140.00 (Per dose)
Chickenpox Vaccine: £65.00 (Per dose)
Rabies Vaccine: £55.00 (per dose)
Japanese Encephalitis: £90.00 (per dose)
Men ACWY: £65.00 (per dose)
Tick Bone Encephalitis: £55.00 (Per dose)
Yellow fever Vaccination: £65.00 (per dose)
Yellow Fever Certificate: £15.00
Private Prescription for Malaria tablets: £15.00

Why do GPs sometimes charge fees?

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

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