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. The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, but not non-NHS work.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their own NHS patients are:
• Driving medical (HGV/Taxi driver)
• Firearms licensing
• Holiday cancellation certificates
• private prescriptions for travel purposes
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
• life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
• reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in connection with
• disability living allowance and attendance allowance.
• medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering
• copies of records for solicitors
Please do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. We always endeavour to process your request as quickly as possible, the approximate completion timescale given for non-NHS services is within 4weeks of receipt.
To prevent disruption to our services, we politely ask that you do not contact the practice for an update within the 4-week timeframe.
Dependent on the complexity of the report, demand, and capacity, sometimes completion may exceed this timescale. If your request is likely to take longer than 4weeks, our secretaries will make you aware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do GPs charge fees?
The NHS provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions, for example prescriptions charges, and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged. Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance claim forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad.
- Vaccination certificates
The BMA suggest fees for non-NHS work, which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and how much. Our secretarial team will be happy to advise you further.
Surely the GP is paid anyway?
It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self-employed, and they must cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers some of these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work, the fees charged by GPs contribute towards their 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 GPs in a whole range of non-medical work. Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are.
- certain travel vaccinations
- private medical insurance reports
- holiday cancellation claim forms
- referral for private care forms
- letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are.
- medical reports for an insurance company
- some reports from DSS/benefits agency
- 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/her patients. GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.
I only need a GP’s signature – Why is it taking so long?
When a GP 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. Therefore, in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the GP needs to check the patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or inaccurate reports can have serious consequences for the GP.
Why do I need to pay up front?
In the past we have completed reports and forms before payment has been made, but sadly there has been many occasions when the GP has completed the work, but the payment has not been made. Therefore, fees must be paid in advance at the time of request for the letter or form to be completed or when the appointment for the medical is booked.