Non-NHS Private Fees

What is non-NHS work and why is there a fee?

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.

Sometimes the charge is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, providing copies of health records or producing medical reports for insurance companies, solicitors or employers.

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients but not non-NHS work. It is important to understand that many 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.

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.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their own NHS patients

accident/sickness certificates for insurance purposes
school fee and holiday insurance certificates
reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise
private prescriptions for travel purposes

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions

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

Fees

In accordance with BMA guidance

Certificates

Request	Fee
Private sick note	£30
Letters - general	£20

Reports

Request	Fee
BUPA / Health Insurance Claim Forms	£35
Public Carriage Form	£85 Blue booklet-pt needs recent BP check & Optician section signed first
Sickness/Accident Insurance Benefit Claim Form	£35
Employers Report	Report no examination: £80 Full medical and report: £175
Freedom Pass	£35
Application for a Taxi-card	£30
Insurance Certificate of Incapacity	£35
Fitness to Travel Letter (pregnancy)	£30
Fitness for School Letter	Report & Opinion: £30 Examination & Report: £85
Holiday cancellation Form / Letter	£35
University Letter / Missed Exam	£30
Confirmation of Registration / Address Letter	£20
GP Insurance Report (GPR)	£102.20
GPR Supplementary Report	£26.57
Firearms Certificate	£35
Adoption and Fostering Form	£85
Childminder Health Form	£85

Medical Examinations

Request	Fee
Private consultation	First 10 to 15 Minutes: £80 30 minutes: £160.00
PSV (Public Service Vehicle)	£85
Pre-Employment Medicals: LGV PCV	Extract from records: £35 Pro-forma report – no examination: £35 Detailed, written report – no examination: £55 Comprehensive examination inc. report: £85
Medical Research Questionnaire	£50

The above are guide prices only - cost will depend on types of report and time / work involved in completion.

These fees do not cover all aspects of private work, so please ask at reception for further details.

Please note, we do not do passport countersignatures here.

Vaccination Fees

Vaccination	Trail Finders Prices	Holland Park Surgery
Yellow Fever inc certificate	£54	£50
Meningitis ACWY inc certificate	£65	£65
Hepatitis B per dose (adult) Hepatitis B per dose (child)	£30 £30	£35 £35
Vaccination booklet (also for re-issue of booklet)		£15
Freedom from Infection Certificate		£25
Vaccination Certificate		£20

Other information

Requesting a Private Letter or Form

Request a Private Letter or Form

Timescales

While we strive to fulfil all requests promptly, it is important to understand that private letters and reports do not take precedence over NHS commitments. Kindly allow up to 28 days for the completion of your request and the payment of the appropriate fee. If your request is urgent or you are given a short deadline by a third party, please submit a valid evidence with your request so that we may be able to help you with your request early. There is an extra fee of £30 for a one week turnaround.

Content

It is crucial to note that we cannot accept requests for the doctor to write specific words verbatim. The content of the letter will be based on the GP’s knowledge supported by your medical records. Both the letter and the accompanying opinion are considered final, and requests for alterations cannot be accommodated. The GP reserves the right to refuse a request or provide alternative wording if deemed necessary.

Frequently asked questions

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Contact us to speak to our reception team.

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, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?

The British Medical Association (BMA) suggest fees that GPs may charge their patients for non-NHS work (work not covered under their contract with the NHS) in order to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees suggested by them are intended for guidance only; they are not recommendations and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates they suggest.

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. Our GPs do non-NHS work out of NHS time at evenings or weekends so that NHS patient care does suffer.

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 (the doctors' regulatory body) or even the police.

If you are a new patient we may not have your medical records so the doctor must wait for these before completing the form.

What will I be charged?

It is recommended that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and what the fee will be. It is up to individual doctors to decide how much they will charge. The surgery has a list of fees based on these suggested fees which is available on request.

Why do I have to pay before the form is done?

Our practice policy is that all private fees are paid prior to the work being completed.

What can I do to help?

Not all documents need a signature by a doctor, for example passport applications. You can ask another person in a position of trust to sign such documents free of charge. Read the information that comes with these types of forms carefully before requesting your GP to complete them.
If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your GP if he or she is prepared to complete them at the same time to speed up the process.
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight: urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this may cost more. Usually non-NHS work will take 4 weeks.

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