The GP’s are NOT obliged to complete this type of work.
Any Requests will be passed to the GP’s and will be down to their discretion.
Why do GPs charge fees?
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions. 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 isn’t covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports of insurance companies, claims on private health insurance and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records.
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 pays the doctor for specific NHS work but for non NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs. Our fees are calculated based on the British Medical Association (BMA) guidance.
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 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
Non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their patients ( fees acurate as of Oct 2017)
| Certificate / Form / Report | Completed within 10 working days | Completed within 5 working days |
Letters: Verification letters or forms for: (School, University, Fitness to Travel | £45.00 More detailed £80.00 | |
Simple certificate without examination | £30.00 | £35.00 |
Private sick note (Certificate of Fact) | £35.00 | £40.00 |
Certificate of incapacity (Insurance Company) | £60.00 | £80.00 |
Certificate for fitness to exercise/health club/gym | £55.00 | £65.00 |
Certificate for ‘free bus pass’ | £40.00 | N/A |
Welsh Water Assist application | £30.00 | N/A |
Occupational Health Questionnaire | £60.00 | £70.00 |
Sickness accident insurance benefit claim form | £60.00 | £80.00 |
Provident associations Claim form BUPA / PPP | £50.00 – £80.00 | £80.00 |
Certificate / Letter of fitness for under 18’s to act on TV / Take part in other singing or dancing roles | £51.00 | £61.00 |
| Travel | ||
Certificate for fitness to travel | £55.00 | £65.00 |
Certificate for fitness to travel (extract from records) | £55.00 | £65.00 |
Holiday cancellation insurance form | £55.00 | £66.00 |
Private scripts for antibiotics travel ‘just in case’ | £28.00 | N/A |
Immunisation summary (extract from records) | £20.00 | N/A |
International certificate of vaccination | £30.00 | N/A |
Medical Examinations and Reports Pre-employment medicals; Elderly driver fitness certificate; racing driver fitness certificate: fitness for sports; fitness to attend school; BDA, health services employees; seat belt exemption; as follows: | Completed within 10 working days | Completed within 5 working days |
Heath Reference Form | £70.00 | |
General Dental Council | £70.00 | N/A |
Report, no exam, Camp America | £84.00 | £101.00 |
Detailed written report, no exam (To GP) | £150.00 | N/A |
Comprehensive examination and report (To GP) | £176.50 | N/A |
HGV, LGV & PCV / driving / taxi (To GP) Examination | £150.00 | £176.50 |
Certain travel vaccinations
Private medical insurance reports
Holiday cancellation forms
Referral for private care forms
Letters request by, or on behalf of, the patient
In certain instances, fitness to work 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 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. Most GPs have a very heavy workload – the majority of GPs work up to 60 hours per week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. In addition, non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.
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. Therefore, in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor may need to check the patient’s entire record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor, with the General Medical Council or even the Police.
