Non-NHS (Private) Services
Private Medical Services
The NHS provides the majority of healthcare free of charge. However, some services requested by patients, employers, insurance companies or other organisations fall outside the NHS GP contract. These are known as private (non-NHS) services and attract a fee.
Examples of private work include:
-
Private medical insurance forms (e.g. BUPA, AXA, WPA)
-
Holiday cancellation and travel insurance claims
-
Fitness to travel certificates
-
Private referral letters requested by patients
-
Occupational health forms
-
HGV, taxi and other medical examinations
-
Firearms medical reports
-
DVLA reports (where applicable)
-
Medical reports for solicitors or employers
-
Adoption and fostering medicals
-
Copies of medical records (where a fee is applicable)
-
Other private certificates, forms or reports requested by third parties
If you are unsure whether your request is NHS or private work, please ask a member of our reception team, who will be happy to advise.
Why do GPs charge for non-NHS work?
The NHS does not fund GPs to complete private paperwork or provide services that fall outside their NHS contractual responsibilities. When a GP undertakes private work, they do so in addition to their NHS commitments.
Many private forms and reports require the GP to review your medical records, carefully consider the information requested and prepare documentation that is accurate, appropriate and legally compliant. This work is often more complex and time-consuming than patients realise.
How long will my request take?
We understand that some private requests are time sensitive. However, our priority is always providing NHS patient care. Private work is completed outside of our NHS commitments and around clinical responsibilities.
Please allow up to 6 weeks for completion of non-NHS work during busy periods. Whilst many requests are completed sooner, we are unable to guarantee a shorter turnaround time.
Please do not submit forms shortly before their deadline, as we may be unable to accommodate urgent requests.
If your request is urgent, please let us know when you submit it. We will always try to help where possible, but we cannot guarantee that urgent requests can be accommodated.
Fees
The cost of non-NHS work varies depending on the complexity of the request and the amount of GP time required.
For this reason, the fee and expected timescale cannot be confirmed until a GP has reviewed the request and assessed the scope of the work involved.
Once this review has taken place, we will advise you of any applicable fee and the expected completion timescale before work commences. Payment is required in advance for most private services.
Our fees are based on the complexity of the work involved and reflect British Medical Association (BMA) guidance where appropriate.
Collection
Once your paperwork has been completed, we will contact you to let you know it is ready for collection or, if appropriate, arrange for it to be sent directly to the requesting organisation.
Please note
Submission of a form or request does not guarantee that the GP will be able to complete it. In some circumstances, the GP may decide that they are unable to provide the information requested, that additional information is required, or that a consultation is necessary before the work can be undertaken.
Where work has already been completed or substantially undertaken, any fees paid may not be refundable.
Contact us
If you have any questions about non-NHS services, private fees or expected timescales, please speak to a member of our reception team, who will be happy to help.