Why do GP’s charge fees?

Your questions answered

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions. Prescription charges have existed since 1950s, 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, because the service isn’t covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies, claims on private health insurance and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records.

It is important to understand that GP’s 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 pays the doctor for specific NHS work, but for non-NHS the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The government’s contract with GP’s 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 GP’s 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

Examples of non-NHS services for which GP’s can charge their patients

Certain travel vaccinations
Private medical insurance reports
Holiday cancellation forms
Referral for private care forms
Letters requested by or on behalf of, the patient
In certain instances fitness to work forms

Examples of non-NHS services for which GP’s can charge other institutions are?

Medical reports for an insurance company
Some reports for the DSS/Benefits agency
Examinations of local authority employees

Fees for emergency treatment in a road traffic accident

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/her patients. Most GP’s have a very heavy workload- the majority of GP’s work up to 60 hours a week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. In addition, non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.

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. 

Fees for emergency treatment in a road traffic accident

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, the first doctor to provide emergency treatment to the victim of a road traffic accident is generally entitled to charge a fee:

The ability to levy a fee under S158 of the Road Traffic Act has been limited to claims by doctors not working in NHS hospitals, as the cost of hospital treatment is recovered from insurers directly by the NHS.

The fee can be levied even if the person driving the vehicle at the time of the accident is on the GP's NHS list.

See non-NHS Fees for Charges.

Private Fees Schedule    Non NHS Fees.2024.pdf

 Fees for services not provided under the NHS

 The services shown are not provided under the National Health Service contract and the attached fees will be charged.

  updated March 2024