Non-NHS Services

Private Fees

Below are a collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding non-NHS work fees; you will also see a table showing the charges our GPs make for services that fall into this category.

GP Surgery Policy on Private Work Involving Vicarious Liability

This policy applies to all patients registered at our GP surgery and covers private work requests that may expose the practice or its clinicians to vicarious liability. Policy on Private Work Involving Vicarious Liability

Isn’t the NHS free?

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, however, there are some exceptions.

Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees; in other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example producing medical reports for insurance companies.

Isn’t the Doctor being paid anyway?

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 in the same way as any small business would. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work, the fees charged by GPs contribute towards their costs.

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. 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.
• reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise.

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.

Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?

With certain 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, for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?

The BMA suggests 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 the BMA 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, so many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.

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.

What will I be charged?

The BMA recommends 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, but the BMA produces lists of suggested fees which many doctors use.

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.
• 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 will cost more.

Please note all laboratory tests (blood test, urine testting…) will incur an extra fee if performed by the Practice and all payments need to be made prior to appointment

Fees

Fitness for Education

To attend University, College, Teacher and Nurse courses and for Dentists. Completion of the form of acceptance for first registration of a Dentist issued by the G.D.C.

Report on a proforma, no examination: £65

Fitness to Travel

Camp America: £65

GP Support letters

Letter of fact: £40 
Duplicate sicknote: £5

University Letters

Disabled Student Allowance letter: £40
Long-Term Condition Letter: £40
Short-Term Condition Letter: £40
Any two letters listed from the above requested at the same time: £50

Private Medical Insurance Claims

Proforma reports for insurance purposes (no examination): £100
Holiday cancellation form/claim: £100

Military Services
Military Services Form: (set gov fee)

HGV & Taxi Medicals
Not provided by the surgery – consult private provider.

Adoption & Fostering
Contact surgery for current fee if paying privately.

Form 1HA:  (set gov fee)
Form M/B Forms C, D, YP, AME:  (set gov fee)
Form AH (Requires medical):  (set gov fee)
Form AH2 (Update – no medical required): (set gov fee)

Hepatitis B Vaccination

Full course 3 injections: £105
Blood test invoiced via Derriford: £30.52

Rabies Vaccinations

A course of vaccinations may be recommended. Please seek advice from Plymouth Travel Clinic at Lisson Grove Medical Centre.

Fitness for Sport Certificate

The surgery does not offer fitness for sport certificates or examinations

Diving Medical

Diving Medical Form: £65

Legal Services

The surgery does not offer this service.

Methods of Payment

We accept cash, cheque, card or BACS
Card: All major debit and credit cards accepted and contactless payment available
BACS: Lloyds bank, Sort code: 30-96-68,
Account no: 00216000
Cheques: Payable to Peverell Park Surgery
For non-patients; cheques must by supported by a bank guarantee card
Payment to be made before procedures

Housing Letters & GP Letters of Support

Peverell Park Surgery is committed to supporting our patients. However, when applying for benefits, housing, passes, adjustments or any other matter where medical conditions may be relevant, we will only supply this information when approached formally by a third party for a factual report.

We will not supply letters of support directly to patients.

Please note all requests from the third party will require the patients’ formal consent.

We will only complete factual responses. We are not able to give an opinion. If in doubt we will refuse to complete the request and may issue a copy of medical records instead with your consent.

Be aware we charge for any requests.

Housing Applications

We do not provide letters for housing, so please do not request these.  Whilst we appreciate that housing problems can be stressful, this is a matter for the council housing office.  If the council requires additional medical information, they will send a specific form to the GP surgery. You will need to provide your written consent for this.

If you are intending to apply for a council home for health reasons you do not need to send a letter from the GP.

The Council will write, in confidence, to your doctor if further information is required.

GPs receive frequent requests for medical letters and reports in support of housing applications from a variety of sources – the local authority, housing associations, directly from patients and from patients via Citizens Advice Bureau. The arrangements for seeking GP reports and for payment vary from local authority area to local authority area, and even when clearly agreed are often not implemented by local authority staff. However all requests should come via the Council or Housing Association and not the patient.

Information in support an application based on health grounds should be supplied by the applicant using a form provided by the Housing Department (self-assessment). This should not require any input from the GP/practice.

Only if additional information is required, should the Housing Department Medical Officer obtain it from the applicant’s doctor, preferably using a standard form, provided the patient has given written consent. The Medical Officer should seek information which is only available to the GP, for example:

• the diagnosis;
• severity of the illness;
• medication

We understand that patients are often wrongly advised to get a letter from their GP and we can supply you with a letter outlining the above that you can show to anyone wrongly directing you to us for such documentation.

Other services we do not offer

• Counter signature – Driving license
• Counter signature – Passport adult/child
• Private blood tests
• Private ECG
• Private pre-admission swabs
• DNA testing
• Fit to fly pregnancy
• Fit to fly/cruise
• Private prescription for non NHS eligible medication
• Private flu vaccination for non NHS eligible patients
• Blue badge applications
• Request for housing application support
• Referral for social care support from Nursing Homes
• Sedation scripts for hospital/dental procedures
• Power of attorney counter-signature
• Letters for missed examination
• Fit for sport medicals – e.g. scuba diving/parachuting