The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions. For example, 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, producing medical reports for insurance companies.
Below are some further examples of non-NHS services for which NHS patients can be charged for:
- accident/sickness certificates for insurance purposes
- school fee and holiday insurance certificates
- reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise
GPs can also charge other institutions for non-NHS services such as:
- life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
- reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in connection with disability
- living allowance and attendance allowance
- medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering
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.
Services and fees
Below is a list of services and the fees:
Examinations/reports
- Court of protection with examination £150.00
- Driver medical with examination (HGV, PSV, TAXI, Elderly, seat-belt exemption) £140.00
- DVLA report with examination £80.00 -£120.00
- Pilot or sports licence examination and report £120.00
- Road traffic accident report with examination £120.00
Reports without examination/details forms/legal forms
- Adoption forms (per patient) £50.00
- Blue badge application form £45.00
- Court of protection form £80.00
- DNA testing £50.00 – £70.00
- Driving licence form (including signing of photo) £75.00
- DVLA report £50.00
- Holiday cancellation form £50.00
- OFSTED health form £90.00
- Power of attorney £85.00
- Written report – detailed £110.00
- Written report – short (extracted from records) £60.00
Letters/short forms
- Fit for gym form £30.00
- Fit to fly/travel form £30.00
- Proof of age form £30.00
- To whom it may concern letter min £30.00
Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A/B combined (course of 3 @ £60 each) £180.00
- Hepatitis B – child (course of 3 @ £30 each) £90.00
- Hepatitis B – adult (course of 3 @ £35 each) £105.00
Private services
- Private health insurance claim form £50.00
- Private medical examination and report £120.00
- Private prescription – no fee but you will need to pay for the medication privately £0.00
- Private referral letter £30.00
- Private sick certificate £30.00
