Fees for Private Non NHS Services
Forms take on average a minimum of four weeks to complete by the Doctors
Payment is required by the practice prior to forms being completed
Unfortunately in order to be fair to all patients, there are no exceptions to the charges
Any URGENT requests can be reduced to a 7 working day turnaround for a supplement of £20.00
Private Certificate & Forms
Letter to fly with medication / £25.00Fit to travel certificate / £45.00
Fit to exercise certificate – review of records / £45.00
Fit to drive certificate – HGV/LGV licence/Racing/Elderly – includes medical / £120.00
Holiday cancellation certificate / £45.00
Health Medical proforma – 20 minutes / £90.00
Housing Letter / £25.00
OFSTED health form (without medical exam, eg childminder) / £90.00
Sickness/accident insurance benefit claim form / £35.00
To whom it may concern – letter/statement of fact / £45.00
Private sickness certificate / £20.00
Private prescription / £20.00
Power of attorney (includes residential home medical) / £120.00
Freedom from infection certificate / £45.00
Consultation for overseas visitor (not covered by reciprocal arrangements) / GP consultation/15 mins £40.00
Nurse or Pharmacist - £30.00
GP Home Visit Consultation/15 mins - £80.00
Student unfit to sit examination / £25.00
Sickness report for absence from College/University/School / £30.00
Passport Forms (please note any professional can complete these not just a GP) / £25.00
Road Traffic Assessment (first examination after accident) / £40.00
I (patient name) , d.o,b, have paid the full sum of £ for the private services for as indicated in the above price list.
Patient signature ______
Receptionist name & signature on receipt of payment ______
Date: ______
Information on charges for private (non NHS) work
Why do GP’s charge fees?
Yours questions answered…
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Services 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 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 to insurance companies.
Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?
It is important to understand that GP’s 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 the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The Government’s contract with GP’s 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 GP’s are asked because they are in a position of trust in the community or because an insurance company or employer want to be sure that information provided is true and accurate.
Examples of non NHS services for which GP’s can charge their NHS patients are:-
· Accident/sickness insurance certificates
· Certain travel vaccinations
· Private medical insurance reports
Examples of non NHS services for which GP’s can charge other institutions are:-
· Medical reports for an insurance company
· Some reports for the Benefits Agency/DWP
· 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 or her patients. Most GP’s have a very heavy workload – the majority work up to 70 hours a week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.
I only need the doctor’s signature – what’s 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. It is up to the individual doctor to decide how much to charge. We have a list of fees displayed on our noticeboard on the waiting room walls.
What can I do to help?
Not all documents need signature by a doctor, for example, passport application, or blue badge applications. You can ask another person in position of trust to sign such documents free of charge.
Fees for Private Non NHS Services
Forms take on average a minimum of four weeks to complete by the Surgery
Payment is required by the practice prior to forms being completed
Unfortunately in order to be fair to all patients, there are no exceptions to the charges
Any URGENT requests can be reduced to a 7 working day turnaround for a supplement of £20.00
Insurance/Medical Examination Reports
Driving Medical (20 min apt)/parachute/racing / £120.00GP report / £97.00
Extract from records (<15 minutes) / £55.00
Full medical examination and report (45 minutes) / £164.00
Occupational Health Questionnaire / £65.00
Pro forma report, no examination (20 minutes) / £75.00
Pre-employment medicals. (30 minute appt) / £133.00
Supplementary report (15 minutes) / £45.00
Fitness for Education eg pre university / £75.00
Access to records under Data Protection Act
Computerised Records – summarised / £10.00Full medical records or combination of manual/computer records / £60.00
Adoption & Fostering Forms (usually paid by Agency) / £100.00
Paternity – DNA Testing / £50.00
I (patient name) , d.o,b, have paid the full sum of £ for the private services for as indicated in the above price list.
Patient signature ______
Receptionist name & signature on receipt of payment ______
Date ______