Why do GPs sometimes charge fees?

Most of the services offered by the surgery are free under the NHS.

Some of the services are not covered and for these your GP, like other professionals, can charge a fee.

The fee will reflect both the doctors’ time to carry out the service and the doctor’s professional opinion. It may also include the cost of nursing or secretarial support, stationary and consumables.

Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?

The NHS provides most health care to most people free of charge but there are exceptions:    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 medical reports for insurance companies.

Surely the Doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that GPs 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 covers these costs for NHS work but for non NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.

 

General
FULL MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND PRO FORMA REPORT (Includes (but is not limited) to HGV, LGC, Taxi, Pilot, employment medicals)	£140.40 inc VAT
FULL MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND COMPLETE REPORT	£210.60 inc VAT
REPORTS PREPARED FROM MEDICAL RECORDS (Short Report)	£70.20 inc VAT)
REPORTS PREPARED FROM MEDICAL RECORDS (Long Report)	£140.40 inc VAT
PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE CLAIM FORMS (Claim forms, including letters of confirmation or other forms of certification)	£30.00 inc VAT
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN (E.g. statement of illness for schools/university)	£30.00 inc VAT
HOLIDAY CANCELLATION CERTIFICATES	£30.00 inc VAT
PASSPORT COUNTER SIGNATURE	£30.00 inc VAT
VACCINATION CERTIFICATES	£30.00 inc VAT
OFSTED REPORT/CHARACTER REFERENCE / SHOTGUN LICENCE	£49.00 inc VAT