Services which are out with 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.
St Paul’s Surgery also provides the following non NHS chargeable services. Forms and letters relating to private health insurance, travel insurance claims, the cancellation of holidays, the inability to attend or participate in exams, school or college activities and the ability/inability to undertake exercise or sports activities (this list is not exhaustive).
Private Fees
Documentation requests
| Private sick note | £45.00 |
| Private Prescription | £30.00 |
| Private simple to whom it may concern letter or certificate | £30.00 |
| Blue Badge (apply/renew online) | https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/parking/bluebadge/howtoapply |
| Shotgun Licence | £50.00 |
| All Insurance or Private health forms | £60.00 |
| Fit to attend/ participate forms. Activity specific, we may decline, GP discretion | £45.00 |
| Camp America or equivalent – form only | £60.00 |
Private Medicals/ Examinations
| Full exam with report or certificate | £200.00 |
| Written Report no examination | £125.00 |
| Driving medicals (HGV, Hackney, etc) | £150.00 |
Students
| Disabled Students‘ Allowance (DSA) paid for by UoW | £30.00 |
| Student accommodation forms | £30.00 |
Travel vaccinations
| Rabies | £70 per dose, 3 doses required |
| Japanese Encephalitis | £110 per dose, 2 doses required |
| Tick Encephalitis | £75 per dose, 2 doses required |
| Private prescription for travel meds | £30 |
| Duplicate travel certificate requests | £20 |
Our fees are inline with the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales. Please note our fees are payable in advance.
Your questions answered
How to request non NHS services?
You may wish to start with sending us an email, stating what your request is so that we can confirm whether it is something we are willing and able to complete and what the chargeable fee and timescales would be. We would confirm next steps with 2 working days of receipt of email.
Alternatively you could pop in to the surgery and leave requests/ forms with us. Note however its likely we will not be able to give you acceptance, timescales and fees on the day as your named GP may be off or busy who provides this reassurance.
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 and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. This comes second to their core workload being NHS medical care. They try to complete non NHS work as soon as they possibly can but state this could take up to 28 days. Non NHS work is completed first come first serve rather than based on priority needs.
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 and only request if no other person can complete the form on your behalf.
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales.