The NHS provides certain services which GPs offer and for which we are paid to offer by the NHS.

However, there are many things which patients request from GPs which are not covered by this. GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients. However, we undertake some work as we appreciate that this service is valuable and of use to patients. Non-NHS services are chargeable.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:

Accident/sickness insurance certificates
Private medical insurance reports
Statements of fact relating to general health e.g. fit to run a marathon
Holiday cancelation claim forms

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:

Medical reports for an insurance company
Some reports for the DSS/benefits agency
Examinations of occupational health
Requests from solicitors for patient record

How long does it take for a GP to complete private work?

The turnaround time for specific requests is listed in our services tab on the page.

Our GP’s are busy providing medical services to patients under the NHS contract. Private work is undertaken outside of or in addition to NHS time, which may be scarce for personal or professional reasons. We will try our hardest to turn around private work as efficiently as possible, but we cannot guarantee the work will always be done as rapidly as a patient hopes.

I only need the Doctors' 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.