Services which are outside the NHS Contract
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority of people free of charge, but there are exceptions. GPs are self-employed and are contracted to provide NHS general medical services for their patients.
The Adam Practice does not have private patients. However, some services fall outside the NHS and charges, in accordance with the British Medical Association, are made for these. Services include private medical certificates, signing applications and various medical examinations for sport, school, pre-employment, HGV licences, elderly drivers and some immunisations.
The charges for these services are shown in reception and shown below, but please ask the receptionist if you require further details.
Patient Fees for Non-NHS Services
Payment by Card, Cash or Cheque
Access/Copies to Records
| Access to Records under GDPR | Free |
| Access to Records under GDPR – requiring excessive/repetitive work | £ 50.00 |
| Copies of Medical Records after insurance report completed | Free |
Simple Certificates/Letters
| Simple Certificates/Letters (eg. I Certify that; To whom it may concern) | £ 30.00 |
Complex Letter/Written Report ( No Examination)
| Up to 15 minutes work | £80.00 |
| Up to 30 minutes work | £160.00 |
| Up to 45 minutes work | £240.00 |
| Up to 1 hours work | £320.00 |
Other Reports/Requests
| Ofsted Childminder report (Health Declaration Booklet) | £ 87.50 |
| Holiday Insurance Forms/Holiday Cancellation Forms | £75.00 |
| Mental Capacity Report (no examination) | £ 87.50 |
| Mental Capacity Report (with examination) | £125.00 |
| Private Blood Test; Paternity: DNA; Tricho Testing | Price on request |
| Private Prescription (for medication not available on NHS) | £25.00 |
| Private Consultation (including prescription) | £80.00 |
| Fire Arms/Shot Gun Licence Application | £50.00 |
Medicals
| HGV, Taxi, Seafaring ML5, etc | £160.00 |
| Elderly Driver Fitness Medical | £160.00 |
| Employment or Education Medical (eg University) | £160.00 |
| Sports Medical | £160.00 |
Vaccinations
Please visit our Travel Clinic page for more information on costs of Travel vaccinations and how to book.
Prepayment is required for any private Travel Vaccinations as they cannot be ordered or administrated until payment is made.
Some medication (e.g. preventative drugs when travelling to areas where there is a risk of malaria) is only available on a private basis. You will be charged by the Chemist for this medication.
Your questions answered
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority people free of charge, but there are exceptions: 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.
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 to do non-medical work 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.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
- accident/sickness insurance certificates
- certain travel vaccinations
- private medical insurance reports
- statements of fact relating to general health e.g. for children’s dance classes
- Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
- Holiday cancellation claim forms
- Referral for private care forms
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
- medical reports for an insurance company
- some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
- examinations of occupational health
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 can I do to help?
- If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once.
- Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight
Examples of Non-NHS Services include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance Claim Forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private Sick Notes
- Vaccination Certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and Practice Reception Staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.