Patient Guide for Non NHS or Private Work Fees
Why do I have to pay?
The NHS provides most health services to people free of charge, although there are some exceptions. For services that are not covered by the NHS, there is a private fee to cover the responsibility taken and the time spent by doctors and administrative staff. We aim to keep the charges for professional services at an appropriate level.
What is and isn’t covered?
The Government’s contract with GP’s does include the completion of some specialist forms (e.g. from the Department of Work and Pensions) and some organisations pay the GP directly to complete reports (e.g. DVLA and certain insurance companies). These are usually sent directly to the GP, so if you have been given a form to bring it’s likely that you will need to pay a fee. Some examples and the relevant charges are listed on the back of this leaflet. If you are unsure of anything, please ask.
Why can’t I get it done here and now?
At Trosnant Lodge Medical Practice and North Road Surgery we want to spend our time providing excellent quality healthcare to our patients. Completing the increasing number of reports that are requested takes time away from patient care. We acknowledge that these reports are important to you and need to be completed, but clinical care has to be our priority. We will aim to complete short reports and letters within 2 weeks and more complex reports could take up to 4 weeks.
Why do I have to pay up front?
In the past, doctors have written letters and completed forms that have subsequently not been collected. This has wasted valuable time which could have been used for patient care. By taking payment upfront, it ensures that the doctor is being paid for the work that they are completing even if the report or letter isn’t collected.
But all I need is a doctor to sign it!
When a doctor signs a certificate or a report, it is a condition of the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete or sign even the simplest of forms, the doctor may need to read a large amount of medical records. Carelessness or inaccurate reports may have a considerable negative effect on your and may have serious consequences on the doctor with the General Medical Council or even the police.
I just need a signature to say that I’m healthy to do it!
Increasingly more and more requests have been received asking for a signature to say that someone is healthy to pursue a particular activity, unfortunately there is no simple test to say anyone is “healthy” to do any particular activity. The GP may not be able to sign such a form or may need to write a letter explaining the limitations of what they can say on the form. We cannot be responsible for whether or not the company accepts what the doctor is willing to write. As GP’s we may not be able to sign a form which you ask us to, as our intention is to always act in the best interests of our patients and to maintain the safest medical practice, so a refusal to complete a form is no way intended to offend.
Some misconceptions
There are some common misconceptions about the need for a doctor’s letter in certain circumstances. These include Blue Badge letters, passport applications, letters for school exam boards and letters to the council’s housing trust. Below are three common examples. Please help us to keep our time focussed on patient care and avoid asking for these where possible. They can be provided if really required, but there will be a charge.
I need a Blue Badge!
Application for a blue badge doesn’t need a doctor’s letter and patients can apply for these via www.torfaen.gov.uk or by visiting one of the council Customer Care Centres.
I need a letter for housing!
If the Housing Trust requires medical information, they will give you a document to bring to the surgery with the information they require. You do not need to request information unless your housing officer asks you to do so.
I’ve missed an exam!
A letter to confirm sickness having missed an exam is no usually required by exam boards. Ofqual states “awarding organisations make no requirement for pupils to obtain a medical certificate in support of an application for special consideration”.
Certificate of medication
Please check with your airline first, to determine if this is actually needed. We can write a simple, factual letter confirming the medication you take and the equipment you might need to administer. If you are diabetic and use insulin you may need a letter of permission to carry syringes, needles or lancets into the cabin, and for icepacks to store insulin at the required temperature.
