Non NHS Services
Patient Guide to Fees and Charges for Non-NHS Services February 2023
Why do GPs charge Fees, isn't the NHS supposed to be free?
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 made because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, providing copies of health records or producing medical reports for insurance companies.
Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?
GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self-employed and have to cover their costs staff, buildings, heating etc - in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but not for non-NHS work.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
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.
Making Payments
We only accept cash and cheque at the practice before the work is undertaken. Apart from firearms letters, where payment on collection of letter from surgery, all payments will be required prior to work being completed.
Timescale
The surgery reserves the right to decline completion of non NHS letters and reports if necessary to meet clinical demand.
Please note at busy periods non NHS work such as this will take longer to be returned to you. We aim to complete paperwork within 5 working days and medicals within 10 working days. But we ask for your cooperation and understanding if we are unable to meet timescales due to NHS work.
All payments will be required prior to work being completed apart from
- Firearms letters, where payment on collection from surgery
- DVLA where the public may be at risk from a delay in completion
Medicals
|
Charge type |
From Feb 2023 |
Payment made by |
|
Request for medical eg HGV medical |
£100 |
Patient |
|
Foster medicals |
Set by requestor (RMBC £86.72) |
RMBC |
|
DVLA medicals |
£85 |
Patient/DVLA |
|
DWP PIP payments |
Set by DWP eg £33.50 |
DWP |
Reports
|
Charge type |
From Feb 2023 |
Payment made by |
|
Insurance report |
£130-199 |
Insurance company |
|
Extra information insurance report |
£27 |
Insurance company |
|
Written Report (standard) |
£100 |
Patient |
|
Written Report (detailed) |
£200 |
Patient |
|
DVLA medical report |
£40 (patient)/ £80 DVLA |
Patient/DVLA If concerns re delay could out public at risk invoice & sent immediately |
|
Medical certificate |
£50 |
Patient |
GP Letters/reports
|
Charge type |
From Feb 2023 |
Payment made by |
|
Request for firearms/ licence |
£45 |
Invoiced at time of request but sent immediately |
|
Request for signature |
£20 |
Patient |
|
To whom it may concern letters eg travel/housing |
£25 |
Patient |
|
Westfield forms |
£15 |
Patient |
|
Holiday cancellation form |
£35 |
Patient |
|
Fitness to travel |
£40 with >2 working days notice £50 if <2 days working notice |
Patient |
Medical records requests
|
Charge type |
From Feb 2023 |
Payment made by |
|
Request for medical records (death) |
Full £50, part £30 |
Family |
|
SAR – request for medical records/summary |
0 |
NA |
|
Stamped/certified printed copy of records/vaccinations |
£20*
|
Patient |
|
Immunisation report with paper notes review |
£30* |
Patient |
*Fee may be waived at clinicians discretion
Other
|
Charge type |
From Feb 2023 |
Payment made by |
|
DWP PIP payments |
Set by DWP eg £33.50 |
DWP |
|
Assessment for lasting power of attorney for health and welfare |
£110 |
Patient |
