Why do GPs Charge Fees
NHS Services Provided by GPs – the GMS Contract
GPs are not employed by the NHS, they are self-employed and they have a contract with the NHS to deliver specific work caring for patients. This is the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract.
GPs are paid for providing services agreed in the contract. They are responsible for running their Practices and covering their costs e.g staff, building, heating, lighting etc in the same way as any small business.
For non-NHS services, which are not in the GMS contract, the Practice needs to charge a fee to cover the costs. This includes; medical reports for insurance companies, claims on private health insurance, other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records and some vaccinations.
What are Non-NHS Services
Fees for Non-NHS Services
The GMS contract between the NHS and GPs covers most medical services to NHS patients.
In recent years, other organisations have been involving doctors in non medical work. This is often about finding or verifying information contained in a medical record.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their patients;
- Private medical insurance reports.
- Holiday cancellation forms.
- Power of Attorney Certificates.
- DVLA fitness to drive assessments.
- Letters requested on behalf of the patient.
- Certain travel vaccinations not available on the NHS.
- Private prescriptions for medication not available on the NHS.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions;
- Medical reports for insurance companies.
- Army medical forms.
- Fostering & Adoption medicals.
- Insurance questionnaires and proposals.
- Employment medicals.
- Firearms licences.
Waiting for Letters
Doctors and non-NHS letters
Time spent on completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of patients. Most GPs have a heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.
Non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.
Expected time-line
We aim to produce reports within 28 days of payment.
Subject access requests should be produced within 28 days. In busy times (eg due to winter pressures or periods of annual leave) we may request an extension.
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. Therefore in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor needs to check the patient’s entire record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor, with the General Medical Council or even the Police.
Price list (updated March 2023)
| SERVICES | FEE | VAT | TOTAL FEE |
| BENEFITS AGENCY Universal Credit PIP DMHEF (Debt & Mental Health Evidence Form) Council Tax Form | No fee Patient not liable for the fee £33.50 No fee No fee | £6.70 | 40.20 |
| DVLA QUESTIONNAIRE With or without examination | Patient not liable for the fee. | Invoice the DVLA as per the stated amount on the document request. | |
| GP LETTER | £20.83 | £4.17 | £25.00 |
| Amendments to GP LETTER | We will charge a repeat letter fee for any requested amendments. | ||
| SHOTGUN RENEWAL CERTIFICATE | £41.67 | £8.33 | £50.00 |
| SHOTGUN APPLICATION Without examination | £104.50 | £20.90 | £125.40 |
| SHOTGUN APPLICATION With examination | £124.50 | £24.90 | £149.40 |
| HOLIDAY CANCELLATION FORM Without examination | £71.67 | £14.33 | £86.00 |
| INJURY CLAIM FORM Without examination | £71.67 | £14.33 | £86.00 |
| UNIVERSITY REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS FORM | £30.00 | £6.00 | 36.00 |
| SERVICES | FEE | VAT | TOTAL FEE |
| HGV D4 With or without examination | £71.67 | £14.33 | £86.00 |
| TAXI LICENCE With or without examination | £71.67 | £14.33 | £86.00 |
| INSURANCE REPORT Direct from 3rd party insurer | No fee to the patient | exempt | £145.00 |
| EMPLOYERS REPORT | Employer to pay £145.83 | £29.17 | £175.00 |
| MEDICO-LEGAL WORK Request directly from a Solicitor | Varying fee from £145.00 per 30 minutes | 20% | Dee to assess before invoicing with a GP |
| MEDICO-LEGAL Extract form the records | Varying fee from £67.00 depending on the time required to process. | 20% | Dee to assess before invoicing with a GP |
| FOSTERING MEDICAL QUESTIONAIRE With or without exam | £145.83 | £29.17 | £175.00 to be invoice to the agency |
| ADOPTION MEDICAL QUESTIONNAIRE With or without exam | £145.83 | £29.17 | £175.00 |
| TRAVEL IMMUNISATIONS. Nurse needs to speak to patient in the first instance. | Dependent on vaccine. | Needs to be priced according to the vaccine. | |
| PRE-EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONNAIRE With examination | £71.67 | £14.33 | £86.00 |
| MOD Computer Print out Only PHCR | £50.00 | £10.00 | £60.00 Invoice MOD |
| MOD Full copy of notes | £50.00 | £10.00 | £60.00 Invoice MOD |
