Most of the services offered by the practice are free under the NHS. Some services are not covered under the NHS and for these our GP’s, like other professionals, charge a fee.

The fee will reflect both the doctor’s time to carry out the service and the doctor’s professional opinion. It may also include the cost of, secretarial support, stationery and consumables.

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

• Medical reports for an insurance company
• Some reports for the DSS/Benefits agency
• Examinations of local authority employees

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/her patients. Most GPs have a very heavy workload- the majority of GPs work up to 60 hours a week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. In addition non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.

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. Therefore in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor needs to check the patient's entire record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council or even the Police.

Non-NHS Fees Payable April 2023 - 24