Some services provided at our surgery are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges.
Examples include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance claim forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Specified vaccinations
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.
GP Practices are businesses that have to cover their costs for staff, buildings etc., in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work but not for non-NHS work. The fees charged by GPs contribute towards these costs.
In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical, non-NHS 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.
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 we will endeavour to assist our patients as much as possible, the request may be declined in some circumstances. For instance, we may decline to sign fitness to perform activities forms such as parachute jumping or marathon as they may need to be done by doctors who have specialist training in these areas.
Why can it 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, so many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.
NHS medical care of our patients always takes priority during our working day so any private letters or forms can take up to three weeks to complete and return to you. We cannot guarantee they will be completed earlier.
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. Inaccurate information also affects the patients.
What will I be charged?
We recommend that our team tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and what the fee will be. You will be expected to pay in advance of receiving your item.
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales, please see below for current price lists. For more information our reception staff will be happy to advise you and provide appointment availability.
Insurance Forms & Medicals etc
- SAR Request (Subject Access Request – Pt Request of Medical Records) – No charge (Unless duplicate request)
- Equipment Deposit – £42.00
- Medical Report – £60.00 (minimum charge)
- GPR: £122.40
- Additional Information: £28.36
- Medical Insurance Claims: £29.10
- Firearms Request/Renewal £72.00
- Private Letter / Sick Note: £26.70
- Duplicate Sick Note: £10.00
- Holiday Cancellation Form: Basic – £34.86 / Complex: £69.72
- Pre-employment Medical: £175.06
- Lasting Power of Attorney: £115.50
- Fit to Fly Letter: £26.52
- OFSTED Form: £84.00
- Private Script: £22.14
- Fostering / Adoption Initial Medical: £175.06
- AH2 (Fostering Update): £73.20
- Fitness to Foster Form: £73.20
- HGV/Racing Medical: £175.06
- Blue Badge: £38.16
- DVLA Medical: £122.51
- MOD (Ministry Of Defence) Declaration: £78.00
- Duplicate Copy of Medical Records: £100.00
- Copy of Immunisations (Duplicate Request): £18.00
- Copy of Bloods (Duplicate Request): £9.60
Urgent Fee – If a patient requires the work completing within 48 hours then an urgent fee applies – the fee will be double the original price if the GP agrees.
Consultation Charge Following RTC
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, the first doctor to provide emergency treatment to the victim of a road traffic accident is generally entitled to charge a fee. A fee may be levied in respect of each person treated.
The ability to levy a fee under S158 of the Road Traffic Act has always been limited to claims by doctors not working in NHS hospitals. The fee can be levied despite the person driving the vehicle at the time of the accident being on a GP’s NHS list.
This fee is within primary legislation and can only be changed by an act of parliament, unlike other fees which are determined by regulation and negotiation. The fee we charge is not a practice policy, but a nationally agreed policy, which the practice follows and adheres to.
RTC Appointment Charge: £21.30
Vaccinations
- Yellow Fever Vaccination: £96.00
- HEP B (3 Dose Course): £75.00
- HEP B (4 Dose Course): £100.00
- Rabies (3 dose course): £20 for each appointment + Vaccine cost (to be costed at time of appointment)
- Japanese B Encephalitis (3 dose course): £20 for each appointment + Vaccine cost (to be costed at time of appointment)
- Meningitis ACWY: £20 for each appointment + Vaccine cost (to be costed at time of appointment)
- Vaccine Admin Fee: £20.00
Cellmark DNA Sampling Fees
- 1 sample £27.50 plus VAT £5.50 total £33.00
- 2 samples £38.50 plus VAT £7.70 total £46.20
- 3 samples £49.50 plus VAT £9.90 total £59.40
- 4 samples £60.50 plus VAT £12.10 total £72.60
If is requested by CSA Cellmark pays. If for private reasons the patient will be charged.