Some services provided 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
• Letter for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates and some travel vaccinations.

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. 

It is important to understand that our GP’s are not employed by the NHS. They are self-employed and have to cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, paper, postage etc. in the same way as any small business. The NHS only covers costs for NHS work, not for non-NHS work and the fees charged by GP’s for private work contribute towards their expenses.

The government’s contract with GP’s covers medical services and ongoing medical treatment to NHS patients. However, things like signing forms and certificates, completing insurance reports, reports for the Department of Work and Pensions or local authorities are not included.

With certain limited exceptions, for example a GP confirming that a patient is not fit for jury service, GP’s do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients. Whilst our GP’s will always attempt to assist our patients with the completion of forms, for example for insurance purposes they are not required to do so.

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of patients. Our GP’s have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, meaning they often have to compete this at night and weekends.

Many people believe that if they are only asking for a signature, it can be done in seconds. However, when a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of their remaining on the Medical Register, that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete the simplest of forms, therefore, the doctor may need to check the patient’s entire medical record.

How much will I be charged?

It is up to the individual doctor how much he will charge and this will depend on the complexity of the form or report he is asked to complete and the length of time taken. However, the following is a guide to the fees you may expect to pay.