Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples 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
Many GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self employed and have to cover their costs in the same way as any other small business. These costs are covered by the NHS for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fees charged contribute to costs incurred.
More and more organisations have started to involve doctors in a range of non-medical work. This sometimes happens because GPs are in a position of trust in the community or because an insurer or employer needs to ensure any information given to them is accurate. Apart from some exceptions, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients.
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients. Most GPs have a heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. When a doctor completes a report or signs a certificate, it is a condition of remaining on the medical register that they only sign what they know to be true. A doctor may therefore need to check the entire medical records in some circumstances to ensure a report is accurate.
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. Urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly and this will cost more.
All Non-NHS work we aim to complete after payment within 2-3 weeks.
Urgent Non -NHS work we aim to complete within 7 working days from payment (There is an additional charge for this service)