The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to ensure that information provided to them is true and accurate.
The BMA (British Medical Association) suggest fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees.
However, the fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients and third parties in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up the individual doctor to decide how much to charge.
Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?
With certain limited exceptions for example, a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients.
Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.
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 and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to complete this work outside of and in addition to their normal hours, for example at weekends.
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 will cost more.
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 (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the police.
A list of our current fees (to be reviewed again in January 2025) is provided below:
We charge according to expected time take to complete the work. The rate is £240 per hour including VAT. There is a minimum fee of £30 (£25 plus VAT).
All fees must be paid in advance of work being completed and supplied.
We accept credit card and payment by BACS only. We do not accept cash or cheques.
We reserve the right to suspend, extend processing times for private/Non NHS work at any time due to busy periods.
| Service | Who pays | Fee |
| To whom it may concern letters (short GP letter) to support claims such as: housing, school, college, insurance, COVID recovery letter | Patient | £30.00 |
| Adoption and fostering | Usually parent (sometimes agency) | Cost dependent on time to complete |
| Private sick note (periods within 7 days) | Patient | £30 |
| Firearm / Shotgun certification | Patient | £60 |
| Private prescription | Patient | £30 |
| Letter to take medication abroad | Patient | £30 |
| Fitness to travel | Patient | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
| Holiday cancellation certification (including or excluding examination) | Patient | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
| Ofsted reports (childminding/teaching) | Patient or employer | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
| CAMP America forms | Patient | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
| Private medical examinations HGV, PSV, Taxi, Driving Medicals – (Subject to GP availability) *Patients making appointments for HGV/Taxi medicals should bring their form, a urine sample and their glasses if worn | Patient | £120 |
| Private blood tests – Will require Check with lab + GP Appt | Patient | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
| Passport/Driving licence signature (Must have known for over, GP discretion) | Patient | £30 |
| Sickness/accident claim form completion | Patient | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
| DVLA medical over 75’s | Patient | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
| Private medical/insurance form completion ie BUPA/PPP (Price will be based upon workload/information required) | Patient | Cost dependent on time to complete plus examination fee if required |
Solicitors and insurance reports
All requests must have accompanying consent from patient to release information
| Service | Who pays | Fee |
| Request for report | Solicitors | £104 |
| Report with examination | Solicitors | £150 |
| Court of Protection (COP3)/Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) with home visit | Solicitors | £150 |
| Full General Practitioner Report (GPR) | Insurance company | £104 |
| Full General Practitioner Report (GPR) With examination |
Insurance company | £150 |
| Additional information request | Insurance company | £25 |