Services which are outwith the NHS Contract
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority of people free of charge, but there are exceptions. GPs are self-employed and are contracted to provide NHS general medical services for their patients.
Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services which fall outside their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them.
Please refer to our Leaflet which you can download or view regarding Private Treatment and Requests
If you are requesting a letter or medical report from us, please complete the below Medical Report Information Form and return this to the surgery along with your request. You can do this in person or by emailing us at [email protected] .This will enable us to contact you regarding your chosen method and provide you with information on the medical report process.
Current Charges
Method of Payment
We accept BACS, cash and cheques only. Cheques should be made payable to ‘CENTRAL SURGERY’ unless advised otherwise. Payment for services provided to patients NOT REGISTERED HERE must be CASH ONLY.
Payment must be made in advance. If you require any further information specifically related to fees charged for Non NHS services please contact the Admin team on 01279 603180 (option 4). As this work is done outside Practice time please allow at least 2 to 4 weeks before you are contacted to collect your report/form.
| Medical Examinations/Reports | |
| Full medical and report including HGV /LGV / PSU / PCV /COACH/ BUS / TAXI Elderly/ Diabetic driver D4 Forms (Please visit the opticians prior to handing in your form to the GP) | £133.00 |
| Pre-Employment Examination and Report | £133.00 |
| General and Employment Medical Examination and proforma report | £170.00 |
| Proforma report only | £89.50 |
| Extract from records | £67.00 |
| Assessment of Capacity ( for power of attorney/court of protection) | £133.00 |
| Written Report without Examination, providing a detailed opinion and statement on the condition of the patient (eg 30 minutes) | £133.00 |
| GP Report for Insurance Applicants | £104.00 |
| GP Supplementary reports | £27.00 |
| Certificates Letter and Forms | |
| Letter re Fitness to Exercise | £40.00 |
| Fitness to Travel Letter (no medical) | £40.00 |
| Accident or Sickness Insurance Certificate – short certificate of incapacity without examination for patient to claim under accident or sickness insurance | £40.00 |
| Fitness to Travel (with examination) | £80.00 |
| Fitness to Perform | £45.00 |
| Shotgun Licence | £60.00 |
| Freedom from Infection Certificate | £40.00 |
| Private Sick Note (any sick note within the first 7 days is private) | £40.00 |
| Validation of Private Medical Insurance (PMI) claim form, to support a claim for benefit in connection with private medical insurance, or completion of a pre-treatment form | TBC |
| Letter to Airline regarding Medication etc | £20.00 |
| Cancellation of Holiday Claim Form | £40.00 |
| To Whom It May Concern Standard Letter | £20.00 – £50.00 |
| Private Prescription | £15.00 |
| Childminder (OFSTED health declaration form) | £87.50 |
| Medical Insurance certificate (e.g. BUPA, PPA, PPP) | £65.00 |
| 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 | £73.86 |
| Form AH2 – Adult Health Update, Parent | £24.36 |
| Overseas Visitors (those not eligible for NHS treatment) | |
| Private Consultation (20 minutes) (costs of drugs and dressings will be additional) | £60.00 |
Your questions answered
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority people free of charge, but there are exceptions: 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.
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 to do non-medical work 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.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
- accident/sickness insurance certificates
- certain travel vaccinations
- private medical insurance reports
- statements of fact relating to general health e.g. for children’s dance classes
- Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
- Holiday cancellation claim forms
- Referral for private care forms
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
- medical reports for an insurance company
- some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
- examinations of occupational health
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 can I do to help?
- If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once.
- Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight
Examples of Non-NHS Services include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance Claim Forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private Sick Notes
- Vaccination Certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and Practice Admin Staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.