Information for patients and third parties
The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. In recent years, however, 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 ensure that information provided to them is true and accurate.
The BMA (British Medical Association) suggest fees to charge for non-NHS work (work not covered under GPs’ 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 and third parties in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up the individual doctor to decide how much to charge.
Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?
With certain limited exceptions – for example, a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients.
Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.
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 their patients.
Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they must complete this work in addition to their normal hours.
I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?
It is a condition for a doctor to remain on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true. This includes signing certificates or completing reports.
Therefore, to complete even a simple form, the doctor may 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 (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the police.
Requests for Fitness to fly/travel or do sport/diving/adventurous activities
Our GPs are not insured to complete forms for these purposes. Patients can access their medical records on the NHS app and would need to approach other private GP/doctor services to have such paperwork signed.
A list of our current fees is provided below:
All fees must be paid in advance of work being completed and supplied.
We reserve the right to suspend, extend processing times for private/non-NHS work at any time due to busy periods.
| Service | Who Pays | Fee (excluding VAT) | Fee (including VAT) |
| To whom it may concern letters (short GP letter) to support claims such as: housing, school, college, taking medication abroad. Some letters may be more detailed and take longer so will be charged for accordingly as advised by the GP. | Patient | £30.00 | £36.00 |
| Private Sick Note (Periods within 7 days) | Patient | No VAT | £30.00 |
| Firearm/Shotgun Cert | Patient | £80.00 | £96.00 |
| Private Prescription | Patient | No VAT | £15.00 |
| Letter to take medication abroad | Patient | £30.00 | £36.00 |
| Holiday Cancellation certificate (no examination) | Patient | No VAT | £50.00 |
| Holiday cancellation (with examination) | Patient | No VAT | £75.00 |
| Camp America Forms | Patient | £50.00 | £60.00 |
| 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 glasses if worn | Patient | £150.00 | £180.00 |
| Occupational Health report/Employment report (with patient consent) – Pre-Employment | Patient/Employer | £75.00 | £90.00 |
| Occupational Health report/Employment report (with patient consent) – Post Employment (to determine fitness to work) | No VAT | £75.00 | |
| Private Medical insurance form/ referral medical information form completion (i.e. BUPA/PPP) | Patient | £50.00 | £60.00 |
| Adoption/Fostering Medicals AH Form AH2 Form | Employer | £137.50 £77.00 | £165.00 £92.40 |
| Ofsted Form (childminder) | Patient | £125.00 | £150.00 |
Solicitors
All requests must be accompanied by consent from the patient to release information. Fees must be agreed before work is done.
| Service | Who Pays | Fee (excluding VAT) | Fee (including VAT) |
| Short Report request | Solicitor | £100.00 | £120.00 |
| Detailed report request | Solicitor | £200.00 | £240.00 |
| Report with examination | Solicitor | £150.00 to £250.00 | £180.00 to £300.00 |
| Court of Protection/Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) without home visit | ? Patient | £150.00 | £180.00 |
| Court of Protection/Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) with home visit | ? Patient | £200.00 | £240.00 |
Insurance Reports
All requests must be accompanied by consent from the patient to release information.
| Service | Who Pays | Fee (excluding VAT) | Fee (including VAT) |
| Full GP report | Insurance Company | No VAT | £150.00 |
| Full GP report with examination | Insurance Company | No VAT | £200.00 |
| Additional Information request | Insurance Company | No VAT | £50.00 to £100.00 |
Requests from Other Third Party
Work accepted where GP has capacity, this will be advised at the time of application along with timeframe, fees to be agreed before work is done.
All requests must be accompanied by consent from the patient to release information.
| Service | Who Pays | Fee (excluding VAT) | Fee (including VAT) |
| Army application information | Army | £75.00 | £90.00 |
| (If requesting copies of notes applicant can get free online access to these via NHS app) | |||
| DVLA Report request (not driving medica) | DVLA | £50.00 | £60.00 |
| DVLA examination (basic) and report | DVLA | £75.00 | £90.00 |
| Stay Warm & Well – Form EC04 | Stay Warm & Well | £30.00 | £36.00 |