The NHS’s contract with GPs is to provide certain medical services to NHS patients. Sometimes, our patients or their representatives ask us to perform additional work; e.g. to complete forms or write letters. This work is not funded by the NHS so we have to charge a fee to cover our time & expenses. GPs are not obliged to offer these services; however, we endeavour to do so within two weeks of a request, whenever possible. This leaflet summarises our non-NHS work policy & the approximate fees charged in advance.

Items We Can Provide

  • Fit notes, for illnesses lasting 7 days or more = free
  • Certain statutory certificates required by law = free to patients
  • Referral letters to NHS & private health providers = free
  • Access to medical records = free in most cases
  • Provision of information from medical records = free in most cases
  • Emergency treatment under the Road Traffic Act = £21.30
  • Private consultation for overseas visitors = £80 (20 minutes)
  • Private sick notes = £40
  • Private prescription for travel = £60
  • Vaccination report = £60
  • Fitness to travel: report = £80; medical & report = £120
  • Holiday cancellation report = £80
  • Shotgun report = £80
  • Adoption or fostering: report = £100; medical & report = £160 (per person)
  • Mental capacity assessment & report = £240
  • Other short certificates (signature only) = £40
  • Other reports, forms & letters, for patients = £80 - £160
  • Other reports & forms, for patients’ representatives = £120 - £240
  • Other medical examinations, including report = £120 - £240

Items We Do Not Provide

  • Character references
  • Fitness for work, exercise, dieting, diving or dangerous sports reports
  • Missed school, exams, court appearance or probation reports
  • Recording injuries for police or insurance purposes
  • Witnessing signatures or confirming identity, including passports
  • Testamentary capacity assessments

 

ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS

A charge is not routinely applicable for Subject Access Requests (SARs) made in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

However, a charge may be applicable for SARs that are ‘manifestly unfounded or excessive’, including repeated requests for the same information, and for copies of medical records that are not SARs, as follows:

  • Access Charge: £20 - to cover the clinical and administrative time spent in processing the request itself, including any searches or correspondence required
  • Paper Copy Charge: £0.35 per page - to cover the administrative time spent and expenses accrued in copying any paper records requested onto A4 paper
  • Electronic Copy Charge: £10 - to cover the administrative time spent and expenses accrued in copying any electronic records requested onto a Compact Disc (CD)
  • Redaction Charge: £0.75 per page - to cover the clinical time spent in checking for and redacting any third party, potentially harmful or legally privileged information
  • Review Charge: £0.25 per page - to cover the clinical time spent in reviewing any copies that have previously been checked and redacted on another occasion
  • Posting Charge: £10 - to cover the administrative time spent and expenses accrued in posting records (the requestor may collect them or arrange a courier instead)