Non NHS Services

Non-NHS services

What is non-NHS work and why is there a fee?
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions: prescription charges have existed since 1951 and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged.
 
Sometimes the charge is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, providing copies of health records or producing medical reports for insurance companies, solicitors or employers.
 
The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients but not non-NHS work. It is important to understand that many 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.
 
In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to ensure that information provided to them is true and accurate.
 
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their own NHS patients are:
  • Accident/sickness certificates for insurance purposes
  • School fee and holiday insurance certificates
  • Reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise
  • Private prescriptions for travel purposes
  • Supporting letters
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
  • Life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
  • Reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in connection with disability living allowance and attendance allowance
  • Medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering
  • Copies of records for solicitors
Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?
With certain limited exceptions, for example a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients. Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.
 
Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?
The British Medical Association (BMA) suggest fees that GPs may charge their patients for non-NHS work (ie work not covered under their contract with the NHS) in order to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees suggested by them are intended for guidance only; they are not recommendations and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates they suggest.
 
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
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 and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. Our GPs do non-NHS work out of NHS time at evenings or weekends so that NHS patient care does not suffer.
 
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. 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 (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the Police.
If you are a new patient we may not have your medical records so the doctor must wait for these before completing the form.
 
Non-urgent advice: What can I do to help?
Not all documents need a signature by a doctor, for example passport applications. You can ask another person in a position of trust to sign such documents free of charge. Read the information that comes with these types of forms carefully before requesting your GP to complete them.
 
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight: urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this may cost more. Usually non-NHS work will take 2 weeks.
Fees for Non-NHS Services

 

Details

Fee

Paid by

Accident/Insurance/Examinations

Full medical report

£124.50

Patient/insurance company

Written report

£90.50

Patient/insurance company

Report on pro forma – no examination

£63.60

Patient/insurance company

Medical examination and report

£145.00

Patient/insurance company

GP supplementary reports

£27.00

Patient/insurance company

Assessment of capacity

£125.00

Patient/Solicitor

Army health questionnaire

£75.00

Patient/Army

Certificates

Any simple certificate

£25.00

Patient

Private sickness certificate

£25.00

Patient

DS1500

£17.00

DWP

GP factual report

£33.50

DWP

Private prescription

£15.00

Patient

Fitness to travel certificate

£42.50

Patient

Health Club – Fitness to Exercise

£30.00

Patient

Holiday Cancellation Certificates

£42.50

Patient

Firearms Certificate

£60.00

Patient

Childminder

Ofsted Health Declaration form

£95.00

Patient/NCC

Form AH

Set by agency

Prospective Carer/NCC

Form AH2

Set by agency

Patient/NCC

Data Protection Act (Access to Medical Records)

·         Records held entirely on computer

·         Manual / combined computer records

·         Access to records

£0

These are free unless deemed excessive in which case we may charge

Driving

HGV/PCV/LGV

£140.00

Patient / employer

Taxi Medical

£140.00

Patient

Special Access Travel Permit

£16.50

Patient/NCC

VOC Certificate

£12.50

DVLA/Patient

Series II Pro Forma

£40.00

DVLA/Patient

Copy of visual fields

£42.00

DVLA/Patient

VOC Resting ECG

£88.00

DVLA/Patient

Employment Medical

Full medical and report

£140.00

Patient/Employer/Insurance Company

Written report

£95.00

Patient/Employer/Insurance Company

Report on pro forma

£59.50

Patient/Employer/Insurance Company

Capacity of incapacity

£30.00-£63.00

Patient/Employer/Insurance Company

 

 

Details

Fee

Paid by

School

School fees insurance claim reports

£124.50

Patient

Simple certificate

£25.00

Patient

Sickness reports and records

 

 

Sickness/accident insurance examination and report

£124.00

Patient/Insurance Company

Bus Pass

£20

Patient

Miscellaneous          

Housing support letter

£25.00

Patient / Council

To whom it may concern

£25.00

Patient

 

Page last reviewed: 30 October 2025
Page created: 15 July 2022