The Government’s contract with GP’s covers medical services to NHS patients however in recent years more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a wide range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GP’s are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community or because an insurance company, employer or public body wants to ensure that the information provided to them is true and accurate.
The following Questions and Answers are taken from advice by the British Medical Association (BMA) to help patients understand the fees charged by GP’s.
1. Do GP’s have to do non-NHS work for their patients?
With certain limited exceptions such as a GP confirming that a patient is not fit for jury service GP’s DO NOT have to carry out non-NHS work. Many GP’s however will always attempt to assist their patients and carry out this work.
2. Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form/letter?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of patients. GP’s have an ever increasing workload of forms which must be prioritised against offering appointments.
3. I only need the GP’s signature—what’s the problem?
When a GP signs a certificate, completes a report or writes a letter it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register (which allows them to practice as a doctor) that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms the doctor may have to check a patient’s entire medical record.
Carelessness or inaccuracy can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council (the doctor’s regulatory body) or even the Police.
4. Who sets the fees and why do different doctors charge different fees?
The BMA suggest fees that may be charged in certain circumstances
However these are intended for guidance only. Doctors are not obliged to charge the rates suggested by the BMA and the fee levels will generally reflect the amount of work and time involved.
5. Why do GP’s charge for the completion of cremation forms?
A deceased person cannot be cremated until the cause of death is definitely known and properly recorded. Before cremation takes place two certificates must be signed, one by the GP and one by another doctor. The completion of these forms is not part of a doctor’s NHS duties and the fees are usually charged to the funeral director who generally passes on the cost to the family.
These fees are agreed with the National Association of Funeral Directors, the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors and Co-operative Funeral Care.
Death Certificates are a separate form and are completed free of charge
6. What notice is needed for completion of reports and letters?
To allow the practice to plan the GP’s time 4 weeks’ notice is required although many are completed within this time. Where a patient has an urgent request this should be explained to the receptionist who will note the request however it is not always possible for other more clinically urgent work to be delayed.
| Medical Examinations and Reports | Price |
| Adoption and Fostering: Form AH/AH2 (Adult Health Report/ Assessment for prospective carer) | £76.24 |
| Adoption and Fostering: Child-minder Health Form | £87.50 |
| Blue Badge Report only | £25.15 |
| Blue Badge Examination and Report | £39.22 |
| Report for Insurance Applicants, No Medical Exam
(paid for by Insurance Company) |
£104.00 |
| Supplementary Insurance Reports | £27.00 |
| CICA Reports (GP report on pro forma) | £39.00 |
| Ofsted Reports | £35.00 |
| Housing Report | £30.00 |
| Private Insurance Medical Claim Form (BUPA/AXA etc.)
(Paid for by the Patient) |
£30.00 |
| Disability Living Allowance (DLA): GP factual report (for disability living allowance and attendance allowance) | £33.50 |
| Disability Living Allowance (DLA): DS 1500 | £17.00 |
| Medical report pro forma for gender recognition | £80.00 |
| Occupational Health Reports | Price |
| Extract from records | £65.50 |
| Report on a pro forma, no examination (e.g. 20 minutes) | £87.50 |
| Written report without examination, providing a detailed opinion and statement on the condition of the patient. This includes: accident or sickness insurance to support a claim for payment of benefit under insurance policy, Fitness for education, Pharmaceutical trials report on suitability of patient to take part as non-patient volunteer, Private medical insurance PMI: report on prospective subscriber to a PMI scheme e.g.(BUPA, PPP, WPA) etc. Written report without examination, providing a detailed opinion and statement on the condition of the patient (e.g. 30 minutes). | £130.00 |
| Certificates / Letters / Forms | Price |
| Character Reference (shotgun license etc.) | £30.00 |
| Driving license photo countersignature | £30.00 |
| Fitness to travel Certificate | £25.00 |
| Simple letter (Statement of Fact), General Letter ‘To whom it may concern’ or ‘fitness’ letter | £25.00 |
| Holiday Cancellation Insurance Forms | £45.00 |
| Sick note – Private Medical Certificate | £25.00 |
| Sickness/Accident Insurance Claim Form (Short) (unless fee specified by Insurance Company) | £23.49 |
| Sickness/Accident Insurance Claim Form (long)
(unless fee specified by Insurance Company) |
£73.86 |
| Freedom from infection certificate | £29.50 |
| Fit to Exercise | £29.50 |
| School Fees and Holiday Insurance Certificate | £29.50 |
| Fitness to fly | £25.00 |
| Vaccinations | |
| Hepatitis B for Employment Purposes (course of 3 injections)£30.00 per dose | £90.00 |
| Hepatitis B (Single shot) | £30.00 |
| Meningitis ACWY | Prescription Only |
| Paternity Testing | |
| For making the arrangements and to take a sample. The charge applies for each unit of work. The same rate will apply for the second or third sample etc. | £37.90 |
| Cremation | |
| i. Form 4 – Certificate of medical attendant | £82.00 |
| ii. Form 5 – Confirmatory medical software | £82.00 |
| DVLA
Agreed fees between BMA and DVLA. VOC is a DVLA abbreviation for vocational |
|
| i. Blood Test only | £39.00 |
| ii. VOC Certificate | £12.50 |
| iii. Series II pro forma | £40.00 |
| iv. Copy of visual fields | £42.00 |
| v. VOC resting ECG | £88.00 |
| Full medical and/or report to determine fitness to hold driving/LGV/HGV/Taxi license | £100.00 |
