Non-NHS Services

Non-NHS services and fees

Most of the services we provide at the practice are available free of charge through the NHS. However, some services requested by patients, employers, insurance companies or other organisations are not covered by the NHS.

Where a service is not funded by the NHS, we may charge a fee for the work involved.

What might I have to pay for?

Examples of non-NHS services can include:

• private medical reports and forms
• insurance reports and questionnaires
• letters requested by patients for non-medical purposes
• certain certificates
• occupational or employment medicals and reports
• some travel-related forms or certificates
• copies of records where a charge is permitted
• reports requested by solicitors or other third parties
• other forms requiring a GP to review your medical record.

Whether a charge applies will depend on the type of request.

Why is there a charge?

GPs are contracted to provide NHS medical services to their patients. Completing private forms, reports and letters is generally additional work outside of these NHS responsibilities.

The fee reflects the time required to review your medical record, consider the information requested and prepare an appropriate report, letter or form.

How long will my request take?

Non-NHS work is completed outside of our NHS clinical workload, and urgent patient care must always take priority.

Please allow up to 28 days for completion. More complex reports may take longer.

If you need something by a particular date, please tell us when making your request. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet external deadlines.

How much will it cost?

Fees vary depending on the type and complexity of the work required.

We will let you know if a charge applies and how much you will need to pay. Where possible, this will be confirmed before the work is undertaken.

Payment will be required before your request is completed or released.

Please check before asking your GP for a letter

If an organisation has asked you to provide a GP letter or medical evidence, it is worth checking with them exactly what information they require before making your request.

In some circumstances, the organisation requesting medical information should approach the practice directly, with your consent, rather than asking you to obtain a letter yourself.

Making a request

If you would like to request a private letter, report, form or other non-NHS service, please submit an online admin request [insert link to triage form].

Please provide as much information as possible about what you need and, where applicable, attach the form or request from the organisation concerned.

We will review your request and let you know:

• whether we are able to complete it
• whether a fee applies
• the cost
• the expected timescale

Please be aware that GPs are not obliged to complete every type of private report, letter or form. We will let you know if we are unable to provide the service you have requested.