Information for patients and third parties
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.
The BMA (British Medical Association) suggest fees for non-NHS work, which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients and third parties in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up the individual doctor to decide how much to charge.
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. – Please note for our practice the standard waiting time for reports is 28 days. Should you need this expedited, there may be a fee incurred. Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they must complete this work outside of and in addition to their normal hours.
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. 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.
Download a list of our current fees.
All fees must be paid in advance of work being completed and supplied. We accept BACS and card payments only. Cheques or cash are no longer accepted.
Due to changes in NHS funding from 1 April 2006 and HM Customs & Revenue revisions from 1 May 2007 some fees are eligible for VAT at the prevailing rate. Fees marked with * are inclusive of VAT at the standard rate, all others are exempt from VAT.