What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. Sometimes the only reason that a GP is asked to provide information is because they hold a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company wants to be sure that the information provided to them is true and accurate.
Examples of Non-NHS services which GP’s can charge their NHS patients:
The NHS provides most health services to people free of charge, but there are some exceptions.
- Accident/sickness insurance certificates and reports
- Certain travel vaccinations
- School fee and holiday insurance certificates
- Fitness to travel e.g. charity work abroad
- Private medical insurance reports
- Reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise
- Reports for ‘fitness to start a diet regime.’
- Medicals for HGV/Taxi/PSV
- Elderly Driver Medicals
- Holiday Cancellation forms
- Shotgun Certificate Verification
- Driving Licence Forms
Examples of non-NHS services which GP’s can charge other institutions:
- Life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
- Reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in connection with disability living allowance and attendance allowance
- Medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering or occupational health departments
Why does it take so long for my GP to complete a form or report?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the care of our NHS patients. Our GP’s have a heavy workload – paperwork takes up an increasing amount of time.
I only need a doctor’s signature — what is the problem?
When a doctor signs a certificate or report, it is a condition of the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor might have to read patients entire medical record.
Requesting a letter
If you wish to request a letter please attend reception to complete a letter request form and to pay the fee of £20 (Please note these letters are classed as non NHS work therefore there is a fee to pre-pay). You must have spoken to a clinician regarding your letter request prior to you completing the form.
You will then be contacted once the letter is ready to collect from the surgery. Please note, our turn around for letter requests is 10 working days from the date of this request.
Payment must be received prior to letter being completed.
Non-NHS FEES charged by Northgate Medical Centre (this page is currently being updated as of 30.1.23 – prices due to be updated shortly – ring practice for exact current new fees)
Please allow up to 5 working days for completion of forms (unless otherwise advised)
- Adoption Medicals (payable by local authority – client to confirm) – £150.00
- Army/Forces Medical Forms (should be payable by Army) – £110.00
- Bus pass application form – £10.00
- Camp America Forms – £20.00-£30.00
- DVLA medical examination – £40.00
- Firearms / shotgun report – £60.00
- Fitness to attend Gym/Exercise Class – £25.00
- Fitness to Travel – Typed Letter – £35.00
- Fitness to Travel – signed form only – £20.00
- Fitness to undertake a University course / declaration of health / medical evidence for DSA (usually medical courses) – £20.00
- Full medical examination and report (HGV, TAXI, Pre-employment/Occ Health) – £125.00
- Hep B vaccination (per vaccine) – £35.00
- Holiday Cancellation form – £35.00
- ‘To Whom It May Concern’ letters (pre-payment required at reception)- £20.00
- £15 – students mitigating circumstances
- Other Medical Insurance Claim Forms (eg mortgage protect) – £35.00
- Power of Attorney (including examination) Assessment of Capacity – £150.00
- Private prescriptions eg anti-malarials (prescription charge) – £15.00
- Private Medical Certificate / Sick Note (when SC2 is not accepted) – £20.00
- Supplementary Question Reports – £25.00
- Typed Medical Report from Medical Records – £120.00