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Non NHS Private Fees
Learn more about private services fees
Certificates
The Practice is happy to complete the following private certificates and forms for a fee. A list of these current fees can be obtained from reception.
Payment can be made by cash or cheque only (Payable to Townfield Doctors Surgery). Please note that for some items a payment in advance will be required.
Holiday Cancellation Forms
Can only be completed if you have consulted a Doctor for the illness causing the cancellation.
Mortgage or Insurance Forms
Most of these forms can be completed by the Doctor without seeing the patient. Please allow a minimum of 4 weeks for completion.
Please note there is a fee for the completion of these forms.
Medical assessments and reports
The Practice is happy to carry out specialist medical examinations or make reports as required for employment or licensing purposes. Examples include:
Medical examinations for Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), Taxi, Public Transport, Driving Licences, Fire Brigade Medicals and Adoption and Fostering Medicals/Reports.
Please note there is a fee for these medicals. 50% will be payable in advance when the appointment is booked.
List Of Fees
Payment by cash or cheque only (payable to the Townfield Doctors Surgery) as follows
Payment in advance for the following items
- HGV, taxi – medical (50% payable in advance when appointment is booked) £135
- PCV/PSV (50% payable in advance when appointment is booked) £135
- Blood Test for occupational health purposes £20 plus any costs charged by the hospital
- Consultation for private patient - we do not offer this service
- Passport & photocard driving licence - we do not offer this service
Payment to be made upon collection
- Letter for patient (private) standard size a4 (per page) £40 (no fee for private referral letters)
- Court of protection (c0p3) certificate no exam £80 / With exam £130
- Holiday cancellation form (per form) £40
- Bupa/private health company claim form £50
- Ofsted form (application for child minder) £90
- Private sickness certificate £30
- Seat belt exemption certificate without medical £50 / with medical £90
- Forms for bungee jumping, gym, parachute jump etc £50
- Fit for theatre performances (child) £40 (will need an appt if not seen within last 6 months by a gp)
- Medical report on proforma no exam £90
Why do GPs sometimes charge fees?
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
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.
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 covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, 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 be sure that information provided is true and accurate.
Can you give examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients:
- accident/sickness insurance certificates
- certain travel vaccinations
- private medical insurance reports
Can you give examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions:
- medical reports for an insurance company
- some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
- examinations of local authority employees
- DS 1500 Form (Disability Living/Attendance Allowance)
Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?
The BMA suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under a GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested.
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 – the majority work up to 70 hours a week – 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 or even the Police.
What will I be charged?
The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up to the individual doctor to decide how much to charge, but the BMA produces lists of suggested fees which many doctors use. Surgeries often have lists of fees on the waiting room wall based on these suggested fees.
What can I do to help?
- Not all documents need 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 all at once as a (job lot) at a reduced price.
- Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. You should expect the form(s) to take up to 4 weeks for the GP to complete and return