Private Fees (Non NHS work) – Information for patients and third parties
The government’s agreement with general practitioners (GPs) encompasses healthcare services for NHS patients, which includes the delivery of continuous medical care. Nevertheless, in recent times, an increasing number of entities have been engaging doctors in a wide spectrum of non-medical tasks. Occasionally, GPs are called upon solely because they hold a position of trust within the community, or because insurance companies or employers seek to guarantee the authenticity and accuracy of information provided to them.
The British Medical Association (BMA) provides fee suggestions for non-NHS services that fall outside the scope of a GP’s NHS contract. These suggestions are intended to assist GPs in establishing their own professional fees. It’s important to note that these fee suggestions are not binding recommendations, and doctors are not obligated to adhere to the suggested rates.
The BMA advises that GPs should communicate to patients and third parties in advance if they intend to levy charges and specify the amount. The ultimate decision regarding the fee amount lies with the individual practice.
Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?
With a few specific exceptions, such as a court ordered work, GPs are not obligated to undertake non-NHS tasks on behalf of their patients. While GPs will make an effort to support their patients in filling out forms, such as those for insurance purposes, they are not compelled to engage in such non-NHS-related work.
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
The time devoted to form completion and report preparation diverts the GP from providing medical care to their patients. Given that most GPs already carry a substantial workload, paperwork consumes an ever-growing portion of their time. As a result, many GPs discover they must handle this administrative work beyond their regular working hours.
I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?
When a doctor endorses a certificate or finalizes a report, it is obligatory for them to do so only when they are certain of the information’s accuracy to maintain their status on the Medical Register. Consequently, to fill out even the most straightforward forms, the doctor may need to review the patient’s complete medical history. Negligence or the submission of an inaccurate report can result in significant repercussions for the doctor, including scrutiny by the General Medical Council (the regulatory body for doctors) or even involvement of law enforcement
A list of our current fees (to be reviewed again in September 2024) is provided
below:
All fees must be paid in advance of work being completed and supplied.
We accept cash, credit card and payment by BACS only. We do not accept cheques.
We reserve the right to suspend, extend processing times for private/Non NHS work at any time due to busy periods.
| Service | Fee |
| To whom it may concern letters (short GP letter) to support claims such as: housing, school, college, insurance, COVID recovery letter | £30.00 |
| Adoption & Fostering | £104 |
| Private Sick Note (Periods within 7 days) | £30.00 |
| Firearm/Shotgun Cert | £104.00 |
| Letter to take medication abroad | £30.00 |
| Fitness to travel, cost dependant on time to complete | £30.00-£50.00 |
| Fitness to travel with examination | £65.00 |
| Holiday cancellation Cert (excluding examination) | £30.00 |
| Holiday cancellation Cert (with examination) | £65.00 |
| Ofsted reports Childminding/teaching | £85.00 |
| Private medical examinations HGV, PSV, Taxi, Driving Medicals – (Subject to GP availability) *Patients making appointments for HGV/Taxi medicals should bring their form, a urine sample and their optician report completed in advance | £115.00 |
| Sickness/accident claim form completion | £40.00 |
| Private medical/insurance form completion ie BUPA/PPP/Aviva/L&G etc. | £104.00 |
SOLICITORS
| Service | Fee |
| Request for report | £104 |
| Report with examination | £150 |
All requests must have accompanying consent from patient to release information
INSURANCE REPORTS
| Service | Fee |
| Full General Practitioner Report (GPR) With examination | £104 £150 |
| Additional information request | £25 |
All requests must have accompanying consent from patient to release information
OTHER THIRD PARTY REQUESTS (Work accepted where GP has capacity, this will be advised at the time of application along with timeframe)
| Service | Fee |
| Patients requesting copies of their medical records (SAR) | Free |
| Request for report by employer/occ health | £104 |
| Army | £65 |
| Army/ with full copies of notes (Online access by patient should be requested which is free to the patient and preferable) | £104 |
| Proforma Report with no examination for 20mins | £89 |
| Written Reports with no examination for 25 mins | £111 |
| Detailed written report with no examination for 30mins | £133 |
| Comprehensive examination and report for 45mins | £201 |
All requests must have accompanying consent from patient to release information
GP Surgery Policy on Private Work Involving Vicarious Liability
Purpose:
This policy outlines the types of private work that our GP surgery will not undertake, particularly where there is a risk of vicarious liability. The primary objective is to ensure the safety and well-being of both our patients and the healthcare professionals, while maintaining the highest standards of clinical care within the scope of our NHS services.
Scope:
This policy applies to all patients registered at our GP surgery and covers private work requests that may expose the practice or its clinicians to vicarious liability.
Policy Statement:
Our GP surgery is committed to providing high-quality care within the scope of NHS services. However, we do not undertake private work that may involve specialist assessments or activities which present a significant risk of vicarious liability. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
Fitness to fly assessments
Clearance for high-risk sports (e.g., mountaineering, skydiving, paragliding)
Certification for participation in sporting events (e.g., marathons, triathlons)
Diving medicals (beyond DVLA Statements of fact) or fitness to dive
Medical certifications for extreme sports or adventure travel
Rationale:
These types of private work often require specialist knowledge and expertise that fall outside the general practice remit. Moreover, issuing certifications for such activities may expose the GP surgery to potential legal risks, including vicarious liability, if an adverse event occurs.
Our GPs are trained to provide general medical services and support within the NHS framework. Specialist assessments should be undertaken by professionals with specific expertise in those fields, and we encourage patients to seek advice from appropriately qualified clinicians or agencies for such requests.
What We Do Offer:
Our GP surgery continues to offer a wide range of services under the NHS, including general health advice, chronic disease management, routine medical checks, and referrals to specialist services where appropriate.
Alternative Options:
For private work not covered under this policy, patients are advised to seek independent medical assessments from specialists in the relevant field. These might include:
Occupational health specialists
Sports physicians
Aviation or diving medical examiners
Travel medicine clinics
Conclusion:
This policy is in place to safeguard both our patients and the surgery from the legal risks associated with vicarious liability. We are happy to support our patients in accessing the appropriate services for their private health needs through appropriate referrals or guidance.
If you have any further questions or require clarification regarding this policy, please contact our practice manager.