Non-NHS Services

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. 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.

The BMA (British Medical Association) suggest fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees.

However, the fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients and third parties in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up the individual doctor to decide how much to charge.

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 for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

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, so many GPs find they have to complete this work outside of and in addition to their normal hours, for example at weekends.

Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight.

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.

Can my GP undertake a Capacity Assessment and / or authorise a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) application?

GPs are often asked to make Mental Capacity Assessments for patients. These assessments can be requested for a variety of different reasons. It is an essential part of a GPs role to perform capacity assessments which relate to decisions regarding medical investigations, treatment and care.

However, capacity assessments relating to overall welfare, finances and property are often more complex and sit outside of their expertise. Decisions such as whether someone’s house is sold or how their life savings are spent can depend on capacity assessments. It is therefore essential that adequate time and attention is dedicated to these assessments. It is also essential that those carrying out these assessments for legal purposes are highly trained and experienced in this area.

Due to the above and that these legal capacity assessments do not fall within the NHS duties of GPs, we are unable to undertake these capacity assessments at the Practice. However, there are other professionals who can perform mental capacity assessments including solicitors and psychiatrists.

A list of our current fees (to be reviewed again in April 2025) is provided below:

We charge according to expected time take to complete the work. The rate is £300 per hour. There is a minimum fee of £40. The BMA has given approximate times reports can take to complete.

All fees must be paid in advance before any work is completed and delivered. Payments are required within 30 days of the invoice date. Failure to comply with this payment schedule will result in the forms being securely disposed of.

We accept cash and payment by BACS only.

We reserve the right to suspend, extend processing times for private/Non NHS work at any time due to busy periods.

What can you do to help?

Not all documents need a signature by a doctor.  For example, you could ask another person in a position of trust who may be willing to sign a passport application free of charge (Teacher, Accountant, etc).

You can complete the form to the best of your ability in pencil, so the doctor just has to verify your entries against the information we hold.