Medical examinations (Non-NHS)
Certain services provided by the doctors are not covered by the NHS and fees are payable for such items as:
- HGV & PSV licences
- Elderly driver licences
- Insurance
- Pre-employment medicals
- Private certificates
- Holiday vaccinations
- Insurance claims
- Fitness for sports
View our full list of fees below.
Why GP’s sometimes charge fees
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions: Prescription charges have existed since 1951, and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged. 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, medical reports for insurance companies, claim forms for referral for private care and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records.
Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?
It is important to understand that GPs 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 pays the doctor for specific 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 on-going 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 GP’s can charge their own NHS patients
- Accident or sickness certificates for insurance purposes.
- School fee and holiday insurance certificates.
- Reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise.
Examples of Non NHS services for which GP’s can charge other institutions
- Medical reports 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 GP’s 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 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.
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. GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their 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 medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor, with the General Medical Council or even the Police.
Is it true that The British Medical Association sets fees for non-NHS work?
Yes the BMA suggest fees that GPs should charge their patients for non-NHS work (ie work not covered under their contract with the NHS) in order to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees suggested by are intended for guidance only; they are not recommendations and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates we suggest, they can chose to charge more or less.
What can I do to help?
Not all documents need signature by a doctor. For example, you could ask another person in a position of trust, who may be willing to sign a form free of charge. (Teacher, Accountant, etc) 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.
All medicals must be paid for upon booking of the appointment. As we need to allocate half an hour of GP time to each medical examination this fee is non refundable if the patient fails to attend the appointment or cancels at less than 2 hours notice.
There will be no exceptions.
Fees
Certificates and forms
- To whom it may concern’ letters – £25
- Vaccination certificate – £30
- Airline confirmation of medication required in hand luggage – £30
- Private sick note/prescription –£30
- Firearms certificate/form completion – – £67
- Fitness to fly pregnancy patient cost – £30
- Fitness to act/ model / gym / lighter life – £30-£60
- Confirmation of address – The Practice does not provide letters to confirm your address as we cannot verify that you’re residing at the address on our records. We are able to provide a letter stating the date you registered with us and the address you have given us. There will be a £20 charge for this service.
- ID confirmation and character references – Our GPs do not do character references or sign photographs confirming identity. Please see the link below for a list of other options available to you: https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories
- Letters to support housing applications – We do not provide letters regarding housing. If housing require medical input or opinion, they will write and request this from us directly
Fitness
- Fitness certificate/ medicals (marathon, cycling etc) (no medical) – No longer undertaken. Please google sporting med certificate
- Fitness Certificate (with medical) No longer undertaken. Please google sporting med certificate
Form completion costs maybe dependant on the time taken to complete.
- Freedom from Infection Certificate – £30-£63
- Signature only or single tick box form (less than 3 minutes) £0-£15
- Met Police Medical History questionnaire – £65
Driving
- VOC resting ECG – DVLA cost £88
- DVLA series II proforma – DVLA cost £40
- DVLA series II & III proforma – DVLA cost £42
- DVLA fitness to drive medical DVLA £85.00
- PCV/LGV/HGV medical – No longer undertaken – Please google PCV/LGV/HGV medicals for your nearest centre
- Taxi driver medical – £95
- London taxi card – £20
- Blue badge report and examination – Local authority cost £40
- Report only – Local authority cost £27
- Seat belt exemption-exam & report – £65
Holiday cancellation insurance claim
- Holiday insurance certificate – £30-£63
- Examination & report – Patient/Insurance company cost £50
- Short report – Patient/Insurance company cost £35-£53
Insurance forms/claims
- Sickness/accident insurance benefit claim form – Patient/Insurance company cost £40-£63
- Validation of private medical insurance (PMI) claim form, to support a claim in connection with private medical insurance – Patient/Insurance company cost £30-£63
- Insurance claim form (Simple) – Patient/Insurance company cost £30
- Private health insurance claim form (e.g. Bupa, PPP) – Patient/Insurance company cost £45-£70
- Private health insurance pre-treatment form – Patient/Insurance company cost £30-£63
- iGPR – Patient/Insurance company cost £20
- General practitioner report – Patient/Insurance company cost £104
- Targeted report – Patient/Insurance company cost £30
- Supplementary/ADDIT report – Patient/Insurance company Co cost £27
- Extract from records (approx.. 15 minutes) – Patient/Insurance company Co cost £67
- Pro-forma report, no examination (approx. 20 minutes) – Patient/Insurance company cost £89.50
- Detailed written report, no examination (approx. 30 mins) – Patient/Insurance company cost £133
- Comprehensive examination and report (approx. 45 mins) – Patient/Insurance company cost £200
Letters
- ‘To whom it may concern’ letters – £20
Private patients (e.g. overseas visitors who are not entitled to NHS Care)
- Medical consultations– £60 per 10 minutes consult
- Consultation fee per hour – £200
- Home visit – £185 per hour
- Private prescriptions (inc for emergency purposes e.g. antibiotics) – £15
- Short letter – £15
- Private sick note – £18
- Blood tests (per sample) – £20
Visa, immigration and citizenship
- Proof of life certificate – £34
- Proof of life certificate with home visit – £94
Holiday cancellation insurance claim
- Holiday insurance certificate – £40-£65
- Examination & report – Patient/Insurance company £55 – £118
- Short report – Patient/Insurance company £40-£63
Medical examinations and reports
- Full medical and report – Patient/Insurance company £200
- Report-no examination –Patient/Insurance company £140
- COP3 form only / testamentary capacity no exam required – Patient/Solicitor £71
- COP3 Form and examination/ testamentary capacity assessment and examination Patient/Solicitor – £118
- Fee for home visit to undertake the above – Patient/Solicitor – £60
- To witness only – Patient/Solicitor – £60
- Lasting power of attorney – Patient/Solicitor – £118-£150
- School medical – £95
- School medical certificate (No examination required) – £25
Travel services
- Fitness to travel (including Pregnant patients) certificate – £20
- Fitness to travel examination – £35
- International certificate of vaccination – £15
- Private prescription for drugs solely for the purpose of travel abroad (e.g. Malaria tablets) – £15
Vaccinations to travel abroad (Non-NHS)
- Hepatitis B (Single Dose) – £50
- Hepatitis B (Course of 3) – £150
- Yellow fever – £70 (Including Certificate)
- Yellow fever certificate – £15
- Rabies (course of 3) – £70 each
- Meningitis ACWY – £75
- Jap B encephalitis (Full Course) – £200
- Tick borne –£70 each
- Vaccination record book – £10
- Private prescription for drugs solely for the purpose of travel abroad (e.g. Malaria tablets- £20
Access to records
- Access to computerised record – £10 + 40p per sheet
- Access to paper record or combination of paper/computer record – £50 +40p per sheet
Immunisations
- Chicken pox (2 doses) – £80 per dose
Child minder
- Completion of childminder Ofsted health form – £87.50
- Fitness to work examination-Child – £38
- 2nd examination within 12 months – £23