We (The Partners) are contracted by NHS Lanarkshire to provide General Medical Services (GMS) to our patients. This includes acute and routine medical care as well as Chronic Disease Management (CDM).
However, there are lots of things that patients ask GPs to do which are not covered by the NHS. For this reason, we cannot do this in NHS funded time and so this is done in our own time. We therefore have to charge for this work. We have recently reviewed our private work and the costs associated with it. Below are some common questions which we are asked.
Examples of non-NHS work which GPs can charge their patients (this list is not exhaustive):
- Holiday cancellation forms
- Forms for Private care referrals (e.g Bupa, Vitality)- We do not charge for private referrals that just require a letter/online Sci-gateway referral
- Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
- Shotgun licence forms
Examples of non-NHS work which GPs can charge other institutions (again list not exhaustive):
- DVLA forms
- Medical reports for insurance companies
- Examinations/reports for local authority/police (e.g. Adoption/Foster medicals)
- Certain requests from Solicitors
How long will my request take?
Our day to day NHS work for our patients takes priority over private work. Once we have agreed to complete the work, we aim to have completed the work within 4 weeks from when we make that decision, subject to the fee being paid upfront. Sometimes, for reasons outwith our control it may be longer than 4 weeks, but we will communicate with you if there is any delay.
Why has the GP decided that they will not be doing this private work?
As our NHS work takes priority, we may, after reviewing the request for private work, decide that the work will take too long or that we are not the best placed to complete the work. As it is private work, we have no obligation to complete this work. Please do not be offended if we decline and we do not have to justify our reason. We would suggest that you contact a private GP/Physician/Psychiatrist. We are unable to recommend such private clinics/doctors.
All I need is a form stamped, why do I have to pay?
We often receive forms from patients requesting a stamp/tick on a form to say they are “fit” to do a certain activity e.g. marathon, iron man, skydive! By signing/stamping such forms, we are taking risk and so a fee has to come with this. Every request for even a “quick signature” requires a thorough review of medical notes so we can make a risk assessment against what we have been requested to sign. However, in general it must be said that we are very unlikely to say someone is “fit” to complete any activity as this is not within our professional competence/indemnity. We may be able to offer a statement of fact, but again as above, we may decide we are unable to do this.
Why do I have to pay up front?
Our practice policy is that all private work is paid upfront. Once the form has been handed into reception, it will be recorded by our administration team. It will then be allocated to a GP who will review the request and decide on the fee required. This will be communicated to you/your representative. If you wish us to go ahead, we will request you pay the fee as soon as possible, so that the work can be completed as soon as possible.
How much will I be charged? It was not this much when I had this form completed previously.
Unfortunately as with everything in this current financial climate, we have had to review our private fees to make this financially viable as a business. We have therefore reviewed our policies and our private fees. Due to the extensive list of letters, forms, medicals etc we are asked to complete, we were often unable to generate a list of fees. We have, therefore, decided to charge on an hourly basis to keep it consistent. Forms that you may have had completed in the past, may now cost more than previously.
Our private work fee will now be £300 per hour, rounded to the nearest 20 minutes. For example, if the work is a form that will take between 1 – 20 minutes for the GP to complete, this will be charged at £100, if it is estimated to take between 21 – 40 minutes will be charged at £200 and 41 – 60 minutes will be £300. Most work will be a maximum of an hour, however, if a medical examination is involved it may take longer than this to complete the medical and the form and so you will be charged accordingly.
As mentioned previously, the request will be reviewed by the GP and the fee communicated to you. Once you have paid we will then have it back to you within 28 days and you will be contacted by the administration team. If you do not wish to pay the fee, we will return the form/request to you as suggest you find somewhere else for it to be completed.
Thanks for your understanding. If you have any questions, please contact our Practice Manager, Deborah Pinna.
The Partners