Non NHS Services

Private Work Fees

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. 

Why do GP’s charge fees?

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

In some cases, dental fees for example, these are to cover the cost of treatment.  In other cases, the charges are because the cost is not covered by the NHS; for example, medical reports for private companies (Life Assurance/Insurance), claims on cancelled holidays, examinations related to an occupation.  All of these examples are not related to clinical matters and, as such, are not part of the General Practitioner’s contract with the NHS.  As the Government is paying for the GP to be delivering NHS work, it is inappropriate that this contracted time is spent doing work that goes beyond NHS work in this time.  It is for this reason that the GP must charge.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The contract between the Government and the GP practice covers medical services to NHS Patients.  Regrettably, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in work that goes beyond this service.  Oftentimes, GPs are asked because they are deemed as a person of trust in the community, or because an insurance company, or employer, wants to be sure that the information provided is true, or accurate. 

Timing?

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?

The GP is contracted to provide NHS work in the first instance, and therefore non-NHS work needs to be undertaken outside of this contract time.

GPs roles are not typical 9- 5 jobs.  There is a lot more work, behind the scenes beyond just consulting with the patient. There are hospital referrals to write, on behalf of patients, and responses to read from Consultants.  There are test results to process, and to action, and medication to review and to prescribe. 

In addition, in needs to be remembered that a GP is under a stipulation from the General Medical Council, that anything they sign must be known to be true.  As such, a GP cannot simply sign a letter or report, without reviewing the patient’s record, and assuring themselves that the information that they are declaring is supported by documented fact. 

Charges

Our private fees are calculated on the time involved in undertaking the average of these types of letters.  We do undertake periodic review, and compare our fees with other practices, both local and national to try and be fair with our charges; however our primary service is NHS work and only offer private work, as a convenience to patients.

In most cases, there is no obligation for you to use the services of this surgery for you private work, and other (private) doctors and organisations can be used.  It may also be cheaper to do this, as some organisations specialise in providing specific services and at competitive prices (HGV, PCV medicals for example).