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Marsden Road Health Centre, Marsden Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 6RE | Telephone: 0191 283 2861

Wawn Street Surgery, Wawn Street, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 4DX | Telephone: 0191 454 2211

Non-NHS Services

Private Fees (Non NHS work) – 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.

Do GPs 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 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 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.

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.

Adoption and Fostering Who pays Charge
Childminder (Ofsted health declaration form) Patient / Employer £100.00
Attendance allowance / disability living allowance
GP factual report DWP
DS1500 DWP
Certificates and forms Who pays Charge
Criminal injuries compensation report on pro forma Criminal Injuries Authority
Letter (To Whom It May Concern) Patient £35.00
Private Sick Note (any sick note within 7 days is private) Patient £50.00
Private Medical Insurance Claim Form (e.g. BUPA/PPP) Patient £35.00
Driving Who pays Charge
Full medical and report (HGV/PSV/PCV/LGV) Patient £170.00
Report – No examination Patient £110.00
Report to DVLA with examination DVLA
Report to DVLA – No examination DVLA
Taxi driver medical and report Patient £170.00
Employment – Private Who pays Charge
Full medical with report or certificate Patient / Employer / Insurance £170.00
Report without examination Patient / Employer / Insurance £110.00
Employment – Local Authority / Police / NHS
Police / Local Authority medical exam, certificate, opinion Police / Local Authority
Police / Local Authority report without examination Police / Local Authority
Extract from records Police / Local Authority / NHS
Insurance (Sickness) Who pays Charge
Examination and report Insurance Company / Patient £170.00
Insurance claim form completion Patient £35.00
Insurance (Accident) Who pays Charge
Examination and report  Insurance Company / Patient £170.00
Report without examination  Insurance Company / Patient £110.00
Life Assurance Proposal
GP examination own patient Insurance Company
GP supplementary report Insurance Company
BUPA/PPP/WPA/Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
Report on prospective subscriber PMI – extract from records Insurance Company
Completion of form Insurance Company
Full medical exam and report Insurance Company
Mental Capacity Certificate
With examination Solicitor / Guardian
No examination Solicitor / Guardian
Private Medical Examinations and Reports Who pays Charge
Full examination with report or certificate Patient / Employer / Insurance £170.00
Report without examination Patient / Employer / Insurance £110.00
Extract from records Patient / Employer / Insurance £60.00
Lasting Power of Attorney Who pays Charge
Patient / Solicitor £110