Non-NHS Services

Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services which fall outside their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them.

Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?

The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority people free of charge, but there are exceptions: for example, medical reports for insurance companies.

Surely the Doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that GP’s 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. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the Doctor’s costs.

In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving Doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GP’s are asked to do non-medical work is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate.

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 or even the Police.

Requesting a letter from your GP

Patients request letters from their GP for a number of reasons and our doctors are frequently asked to provide private or ‘To Whom it May Concern’ letters or reports for third parties. The usual fee for a standard letter is a minimum of £40. Although more complicated letters or reports may attract a higher fee.

Why is there a charge?

The cost of these letters and reports are not covered by the NHS. They are completed during the GP’s own time and as such there is a fee payable. All letters require the doctor to take time to review a patient’s medical records to ensure that the information provided is correct, then the doctor has to dictate the letter, and finally the admin team has to type and print it.

Timescales

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 GP’s have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GP’s find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.

Private letters and reports do not take priority over NHS work. This type of work can take up to 6 to 8 weeks for completion.

Content

We will not accept requests for ‘the doctor must write these exact words’. The GP will write what they know, supported by your medical record. Both the letter and the opinion they produce is final and you cannot request changes to be made. The GP has the right to refuse your request or provide alternative wording if they feel it is necessary.

If you insist on the GP changing your letter to suit what you think it should say, or if you want to dictate the contents, we will withdraw our offer to write the letter. Please remember, the doctor is not obliged to write a letter for you at all, as this is not an NHS requirement.

Appropriate requests

We will try our best to help you, here are a few examples of suitable and non-suitable requests

Examples of appropriate requests:

Fitness to travel or if you are having to cancel a holiday
Confirmation of medical conditions and / or medication
Letters for mitigating circumstances, school, universities, employers or courts, etc.
Letters to the Council/housing requirements

Examples of requests we cannot fulfil

Confirmation of address, ID or residence (we have no way to verify this)
Countersigning passport applications
Letters stating something that is not supported by your medical record

Are you requesting a letter to support your benefit claim?

If you are requesting a letter to support your benefit claim, you may stand a better chance of success following the guidance given on the website below rather than by submitting a GP letter – appeals succeed based on comprehensive evidence. If more information is required regarding your health/medical conditions, the organisation who you have applied for benefits from will write to us directly asking us specific questions they have.

You may find this website useful: https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Requesting a letter

Requests for letters must be put in writing and you must state clearly:

a) the reason for the letter

b) to whom it should be addressed

You can send your request for a letter to highfield.enquiries@nhs.net

Please note if you are emailing your request to us, you must include your full name, date of birth and address.

DVLA Medicals

Driving is a central part of most adults’ lives. It may not always be a pleasure but the sheer convenience of being able to go where you want when you want means that few of us would give up driving voluntarily.

However, some medical conditions prevent or impose restrictions on patients’ driving. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website directs the following unequivocal statement to drivers:

‘If you have a medical condition which has become worse since your licence was issued, or you develop a new medical condition, you must write and inform the Drivers Medical Unit of the nature of your condition, as it may affect your fitness to drive. Failure to do so is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1000.

Taxi Medical

If you require a Taxi Medical Highfield Surgery is providing Medicals on Friday mornings by appointment for £50.

If you require a Taxi Medical within 48 hours we can provide this as well by appointment only.

Tier 1 – Simple letters for patients	Cost
Housing letter	£40.00
Exam board letter	£40.00
Any other simple letter	£40.00

Tier 2 – Simple certificates (basic statements)	Cost
Vaccination certificate	£40.00
EC04 Form	£40.00
Private sicknote	£40.00
Private prescription	£40.00
Blue Badge application	£40.00

Tier 3 – Reports (more detailed claim forms)	Routine	Within 72 hours
Health insurance claim form	£100.00	£200.00
Holiday cancellation form	£100.00	£200.00
Gym cancellation	£100.00	£200.00
Firearms	£100.00	N/A
Camp america forms	£200.00	N/A

Tier 4 – Medical examinations	Patient paying	Company paying
Taxi medicals	£50.00	N/A
Drivers – HGV, PCV, LGV, Diabetic, Forklift truck	£100.00	£200.00
Pre-Employment medical	£100.00	£200.00

Patients are expected to pay for Tier 4 forms in advance, at the time of booking the appointment.

Medical report	Cost
Insurance company report	£150.00
Supplementary insurance report	£50.00
Insurance report for patients taken ill abroad	£150.00

Other charges	Cost
Childminder health forms – OFSTED Forms	£100
Power of attorney – only done by Dr Espada.	£150 if patient attends the surgery, £300 for home visit. If two forms are required £250 for both
Capacity assessments – only done by Dr Espada for Care home patients.	£150 for full assessment and £100 for PA14 form only