Medical forms/letters and private medical exams

Non-urgent advice: How do I request Non-NHS work?

Sometimes you may need a GP to support you with work not funded by the NHS. This page will outline what you will need to pay for, why and how to do it.

Why do GPs charge fees? Isn't the NHS supposed to be free? - Your questions answered

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions, for example prescription charges have existed since 1951, and there are several other services for which fees are charged. Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees. In other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies, claim forms for referral for private care and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records.

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 must cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS pays the doctor for specific NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee must cover the doctor’s costs.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge are:

Certain travel vaccinations
Private medical insurance reports
Holiday cancellation claim forms
Referral for private care forms
Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
Medical reports for an insurance company
Examinations for local authority employees

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

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports is done by the GPs in their own time, and can take a GP away from the medical care of his/her patients. GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.

I only need a 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. Therefore, in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor needs 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.

How do I arrange to have a form completed (e.g. bus pass form, passport application etc)?

Please leave a copy of such forms with reception or you can email them securely to gmicb-sto.p88005-admin@nhs.net
Your form will be reviewed and you will be advised on the fee where applicable, and the likely time it will take for completion.
Where applicable payment is required before completing the work. Some fees are paid by the requesting company, and others will require payment from the patient. The practice currently accepts cash or cheque for private work.

What can I do to help?

Please check what information is required - The government has introduced access to records through the NHS APP - you can access basic medical information you may need here instantly and free of charge.
Please provide written consent as soon possible when requested. We will not release your full confidential medical records without your expressed consent to do so, even if you have given consent to the insurance company to do so.
Not all documents need to be signed by a doctor, for example, passport applications. You can ask another person in a position of trust to sign such documents free of charge.
Don’t make appointments to request forms or letters. Such requests can be made to the receptionists.
Don’t ask for reports or letters that are not required. We are advised by many organisations, for example, housing, schools and probation, that letters are not required. If these organisations do need information from your medical record, you can request a summary printout which is free of charge.
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight: urgent requests may mean that a doctor must make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this may cost more.

Please allow 8-10 weeks for completion before chasing– times may vary according to the form and GP workload

Cookies on the The Reddish Family Practice website