Why am I being charged?
Forms often need to be filled out by a GP for a variety of reasons e.g. occupational, social, holidays, insurance claims, etc. The NHS does not provide any payment to cover the cost of these, so GPs choose to do this work and charge a fee to cover their time and the administrative workload to do this work for patients.
The fee covers the time, medical opinion and responsibility we take on when we fill out forms, provide letters and complete reports. We take responsibility for the information being complete and accurate.
Isn’t it just a quick signature?
In short – no. Virtually all forms require us to, at the very least examine your notes (both paper and electronic) to make sure we are including and taking into account all your past medical history and this can take time – even if you do not have much in your medical history, there is often more in your medical notes than you realise. Even where we are just providing a letter with a couple of lines to say e.g. fit to travel – we have done a thorough review of your notes to know it is safe to say this. As before, we also have to take responsibility for our opinions should anything happen.
Why does it take so long to get my letter / form done?
As above – it’s not just a ‘quick signature’. We need to review your notes and not all Doctors work all days. Also please bear in mind we have 13,000 patients (roughly!) so we are likely to have quite a lot of forms to fill out, not to mention our usual duties of caring for patients. We will get it done as soon as we can but this may take time.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes – we only provide the services detailed below
How/when should I pay?
We accept payment by electronic bank transfer, debit or credit card. We ask for payment up front before the work is done. A list of our private/non-NHS fees is displayed on our website and in the surgery.
Forms and services not covered by the NHS which we charge for:
- HGV/ PSV/ TAXI Medical & report - Please note any tests associated with the medical will be charged separately.
- Other Medicals - Please note any tests associated with the medical will be charged separately.
- Certificate of incapacity to work (i.e., Mortgage form)
- Diet Medical Form
- Driving Licence Form
- Food Hygiene
- Hepatitis B
- Letters i.e. housing, schools etc
- Private prescriptions e.g. Malaria
- Private Sick Certificate
- Reports
- Travel Cancellation Form/ Fitness to travel
- Travel Vaccinations not covered by NHS