Non NHS Private 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 is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies.

It is important to understand that GPs are not employed by the NHS, they are self-employed. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.

With certain limited exceptions, for example a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for Jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients. Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

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.

• accident/sickness insurance certificates
• certain travel vaccinations
• private medical insurance reports

• 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)

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.

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.

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.

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and Practice Reception Staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. 

• Not all documents need a 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. Please read the information that comes with such forms carefully. Following advice received previously, Doctors at the surgery do not countersign passport applications.
• If you have several forms requiring completion, present them to the surgery at the same time for completion.
• Forms may take up to 4 weeks to complete. Urgent requests may require special arrangements to be made which may add to the cost. 
• Our priority will always be NHS patient care over non-NHS work.