Non NHS Private Fees

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
Insurance claim forms
Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
Private sick notes
Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

The fee will reflect both the doctor's time to carry out the service and the doctor's professional opinion. It may also include the cost of nursing or secretarial support, stationary and consumables.

Why do GPs sometimes charge fees? Yours questions answered in our FAQ.

Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?

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 made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees; in other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies.

Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that 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. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, 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 be sure that information provided is true and accurate.

Can you give examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients:

accident/sickness insurance certificates
certain travel vaccinations
private medical insurance reports

Can you give examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions:

medical reports for an insurance company
some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
examinations of local authority employees
DS 1500 Form (Disability Living/Attendance Allowance)

Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?

The BMA suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under a GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested.

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 – the majority work up to 70 hours a week – and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.

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 or even the Police.

What will I be charged?

The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up to the individual doctor to decide how much to charge, but the BMA produces lists of suggested fees which many doctors use. Surgeries often have lists of fees on the waiting room wall based on these suggested fees.

What can I do to help?

Not all documents need 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.
If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your GP if he or she is prepared to complete them all at once as a (job lot) at a reduced price.
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. You should expect the form(s) to take up to 4 weeks for the GP to complete and return

Private Fees 2025

Adoption/Fostering and Child Services

Paternity Testing – making arrangements and taking a sample e.g DNA, swab test, hair sample: £50
Child Minder health form: £90
Foster/Adoption Form C, D, YP &AME: £100
Fostering/Adoption Form/report – AH /AH2: £100

Certificates

Vaccination Certificate (international/travel): £30
Private Sick Note (less than 7 days): £30
Surgery/GP Stamp on document: £30
Private Medical Certificate (more than 7 days): £30
Certificate to confirm attendance at GP Surgery: £30

Disability and Benefits

Benefit assessment report/form: £50
DSA – Disability Student Allowance Form: £30

Driving

DVLA report detailed ( may involve examination): £85
Request for additional info for HGV, Taxi, PCV medical: £50
Driving licence application validation: £40
Taxi medical: £150
PCV Full medical: £150
DVLA written Report (No examination): £40
HGV full medical: £150

Insurace/Other Reports/Forms

Mobility Scooter Form: £50
Life insurance report (without examination): £100
Fitness health spa report: £50
Compensation report (CICA): £50
Health Club Report: £50
Life Insurance report (with examination): £150
Pro Forma Insurance Report: £100
Private Insurance claim form £30
School Fees Insurance claim form: £50
Holiday Cancellation Claim Form/Certificate: £30
Income Protection Form: £100
Gun Licence: £100
Private Health Questionnaire: £75
Supplementary Report for Insurance company: £30
Sports Full Medical: £50
Pro-Forma Report - Other: £150
Fitness letter gym/sporting event: £30
Blue Badge (disabled parking)/incapacity form/concessionary travel pass/pensions report/council tax discount letter: £30
Shotgun licence-both NEW and RENEWAL – No medical examination: £50
Army Form: £80
Seat belt exemption forms – please note the GPs do not sign these GPs do not sign
Fitness to fly in pregnancy – GPs do not sign these as GPs no longer has visibility of any maternity notes – Please contact midwife/obstetrician
Passport photos - please note the GPs do not sign these. For accepted counter signatories see here.

Letters

Other Detailed letters requested by third parties: £100
To Whom It May Concern (simple): £40
To Whom It May Concern (Complex): £50
Proof of registration at Surgery (Family): £40
Proof of registration at surgery (individual): £30
Private Prescription on Headed Paper: £30
Free From Infection Letter: £40
Confirmation of Medical diagnosis: £50
Prescription medication letter incl.for flight: £30
Housing Letter: £30
Fitness to travel ( excl. pregnancy): £50

Employment

Employment, pre-employment Medical & report with Examination: £150
Employment, pre-employment Medical & report No Examination: £100
Pre-employment pro-forma (short): £30-50

Vaccinations

Yellow Fever Vaccination – Fee includes certificate and vaccines: £70
Yellow Fever Vaccination Replacement certificate: £40

Accessto Medical Records/Reports

Records are sent electronically (via NHS App or USB)/ Check with reception for fees via USB, Digital copies: FOC
Photocopying per page: £0.50p
Admin and postage: £30

The costs involved in second and subsequent requests are as follows:

Admin of producing electronic copy of records: £30
Admin and postage paper records: £30

Patient (or Solicitor on behalf of patient) request for copies of records. The first set either electronic or paper is free of charge. (https://www.bma.org.uk/media/1868/bmaaccess-to-healthrecords-nov-19.pdf -Section 4, Paragraph 8) We encourage patients to have electronic rather than paper copies as this allows our staff to concentrate on NHS work and it is more secure.

Functional Cookies

3rd Party Cookies