In recent months our surgery has been experiencing an increase in requests for letters to support a variety of situations our patients encounter.
Although the NHS provides most health care free of charge there are number of other services for which fees can be charged. These services are not covered by the NHS and therefore represent a private work for which patients will need to pay.
Please be aware that due to variety of requests submitted Firdale Medical Centre will consider each one on individual basis and provide response within 7 days if the request can be fulfilled and what will be the charge. It may take up to 28 days to process some requests and our administration team will contact you once documents are ready for collection.
Non – NHS / Private work. Why are fees charged?
The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. However, in recent years more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a wide range of non NHS work. This work is not funded by the government, so GPs have to charge a fee to cover their time and other expenses.
Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?
It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS. They are self-employed and they have to cover the costs of everything from the limited NHS funds provided – staff wages, buildings, heating, lighting, etc. – in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers costs for NHS work, but not for non-NHS work, the fees charged by GPs contribute towards keeping the surgery running.
Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?
With certain limited exceptions, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work. Many GPs however will always attempt to assist their patients and carry out this work.
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form/letter?
Time spent completing forms & preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of patients which will always have top priority. GPs have ever increasing workload of forms which must be prioritised against offering appointments and other urgent administration. We aim to complete non-NHS work within 28 days of receipt.
I only need the GP’s signature – what’s the problem?
When a GP signs a certificate, completes a report or writes a letter it is a condition of remaining on the medical register (which allows them to practice as a doctor), that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor may have to check a patient’s entire medical record.
| Description of Request / Work | Fee Payable |
| Travel / Holiday | |
| Cancellation Claim | £75 |
| Fitness to Travel (certificate only) | £50 |
| Fitness to Travel (report & examination) | £80 |
| Fitness to Work Note (Sick Note) Please note that if your sickness is for seven days or less the GP does not have to provide a sick note. You may be charge for the private sick note for illnesses of seven days or less. | |
| Private Sick Note | £20 |
| To whom it may concern letter | £60 |
| Power of Attorney Forms: either or both Health and Welfare and Property and Finances | |
| Signature only | £80 |
| Appointment / Examination and signature | £160 |
| Medical Services (examinations and reports) | |
| HGV/Bus (examination & forms completed) | £120 |
| Taxi (examination & forms completed) | £120 |
| Company Medical Exam & Report | £200 |
| Company Medical Report Only | £80 |
| Private Medical (e.g. Camp America etc.) | £80 |
| Police/Fire Service Application Medical Form | £50 |
| University Medical Questionnaire | £50 |
| Medical Report for Firearms License | £30 |
| Buss pass application form | No fee |
| Medical Records | No fee |
Please note that above table does not represent the whole array of private requests and that in certain circumstances the prices may be dictated by volume of work required