Not all services at the practice are available under the NHS. Where patients request non-NHS items or services, a private fee may be payable in accordance with British Medical Association (BMA) guidance and in line with charges applied by other General Practice surgeries. Fees and charges for these services are shown below which may be payable in advance. Any questions in regards to these services, you can contact us via e-consult on our home page.
Private Services List & Fees
Fees Payable
All requests can take up to 28 days after payment has been received. Payment is non-refundable, if you wish to expedite your request this comes at an additional cost and is dependent on time and detail required.
All requests will be deemed ‘not required’ if payment is not made within 30 days of initial request.
We will shred all paperwork 5 days after ‘not required’ date has past.
We are often asked but can not write ‘fit to fly’ letters.
| Medical Examinations | Fee |
| Full Medical Examination and Report Drivers or Pilots vocational licences (e.g. LGV, PCV, Taxi, Pilots, etc.) Fitness to drive for insurance purposes (e.g. Elderly or racing driver) Employment or Pre-Employment medicals (e.g. Army, Police) | £110 – £150 |
| Employers examination | from £110 |
| Accident &/or Sickness Insurance Medical Examination Includes Loan, Income and Mortgage Protection | from £80 |
| Legal aid report | from £50 |
| Certificates, Forms & Reports | Fee |
| Coroner’s Report | No charge |
| ECG copy | 25p per page |
| Claim Forms | Fee |
| Solicitors report (p/h) | from £100 |
| Holiday insurance cancellation | from £100 |
| Housing benefits report | from £50 |
| Life/Health insurance claims forms (BUPA, PPP etc.) | from £100 |
| Slimming club/health club certificate / questionnaires etc | from £50 |
| Private sick certificate for employer, college etc. Completing a DS1500 form | from £50 |
| Admin Costs – Updates on current requests | up to £25 |
| Miscellaneous | Fee |
| Complex letter requiring extracts from medical record | from £100 |
| Any simple letter to support Non–NHS information (e.g. statements of fact, To whom it may concern, etc.) | from £50 |
| Firearm Licence/ Certificates | £500 |
| Private consultations | Fee |
| Private appointment with doctor | £50 consultation for 15mins |
| Private appointment with nurse | £50 consultation for 15mins |
| Any tests required (fee is in addition to private consultation fee) | £10 prescription |
| Fees Payable by Other Authority/Organisation | |
| Insurance Medical Reports / DVLA | Fee |
| Insurance General Practitioners report | from £100 – £500 |
| DVLA Report (Series II pro-forma) | from £100 |
| Solicitors – Forms & Reports / Copies of Medical Records | Fee |
| Letter providing information from patient records (Fee depending on complexity of letter) | from £100 |
| Local Authority | Fee |
| Adoption medical | to be paid by 3rd party |
| Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) | Fee |
| Disability living allowance forms | to be paid by 3rd party |
| DSA 1550 forms | to be paid by 3rd party |
Letters Guidance
How do I request a letter?
If it is a letter you require, we would need as much detail as you can give us in WRITING (you via e-consult or in
writing). This should include specific details of what the letter is for, to whom it is directed, why you need it, and
what information you feel we need to include in the letter (particularly how your medical condition impacts on what
you need the letter for). The doctor can only write what they know to be true from your medical records.
How do I request a report?
If it is a report you need to complete all parts relevant to the yourself to ensure only the GP to be completed parts
are left. This then needs handing in at reception.
Will I need an appointment?
We will decide if an appointment is necessary. In the case of HGV/PCO medicals, we require the full fee in
advance before we will book your appointment.
Is there a fee?
In many cases we will charge a fee because this would be classified as private work. We will inform you of the exact
fee once you have submitted your request and the associated documentation. Once the fee is paid we will make
arrangements for the completion of the work. Depending on the type of work, this may or may not require an
appointment. Our Fees on our website for guidance.
How long will the letter take?
Private work is normally considered routine work and will be given appropriate prioritisation. We will inform you the
time-frame for completion, usually up to 28 days. Please make your request at the earliest opportunity if you have a
deadline.
Can we refuse to write a letter/ report?
YES, requests are made outside NHS contract and are therefore at the discretion of the practice.
What If I don’t like what is written?
You have the opportunity to see medical reports before being sent if you wish. Letters are generally given to the
patient. The doctor can only write what they know to be true from your medical records, what you inform them of
and their personal clinical knowledge of you. They are a one-off service and cannot be rewritten or refunded. We do
not and cannot guarantee your success with the recipient of the letter.
How can I complain about a letter that has been written?
Private letters are outside the remit of NHS work, however, if you are unhappy with anything we have written you
can email [email protected].
You should always make sure that the intended recipient of the letter has specifically requested it and that it will be
of value to them in considering your specific request. Often it is better for you to ask them to write directly to us
detailing what they need. This will save time and money where there is no specific requirement.
Further Information Non-NHS Work:
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 are:
- 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 are:
- 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
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 (i.e. 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 not 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.
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 from payment.
Doctor’s Letter
You may require a doctor’s letter for various reasons e.g. confirmation of medical conditions. Please contact contact us via e-consult on our home page to make your request which will be dealt with in the most appropriate way.