Non-NHS Services

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.

Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services which fall outside their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them.

Alresford Surgery provides non-NHS chargeable services such as forms and letters relating to private health insurance, travel insurance claims, cancellation of holidays and others.

Queries and forms can be passed through reception for the request to be formally reviewed. The fee will be discussed with the requestor and agreed prior to any work being carried out.

Please do not book an appointment to discuss these specific issues with a GP. If an appointment is required we will contact you to discuss this further.

Please note: all patients must be charged

We respectfully ask that payment for non-NHS work is in advance of the completion of the work.

Any requests for non-NHS work to be completed will take up to 20 working days to be completed.

FAQs

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.
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.
– 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
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.
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.
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

Price List

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.

ServiceCharge
Private Medical Assessments(including insurance/adoption/HGV/Taxi)From £165 + VAT
Claim Forms(including travel, insurance, private letter, TWIMC)From £55 + VAT
Firearms Application£55 + VAT
Private Prescription£15
Copy of Records (if repeat) – computerised55p per page
Copy of all recordsFrom £55 (+55p per page if large)
Failure to attend medical (without 48 hours notice)£55
Hourly rate for any other private service (charged in time increments of 20 minutes)£165/hour + VAT

PLEASE NOTE:ALL REQUESTS ARE SCREENED FOR SUITABILITY PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE.

FEES MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO WORK BEING COMMENCED.

ALL FORMS AND ASSESSMENTS THAT EXCEED THE ALLOCATED TIME ALLOWANCE WILL BE CHARGED IN ADDITIONAL TIME INCREMENTS OF 20 MINUTES AT £165/HOUR