The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. In recent years, however, more and more organisations and individuals have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-NHS work. In these circumstance a fee will be applied.
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.
Please be aware that there are very strict criteria you must meet for your doctor to deem you unfit for jury service. This is a legal document and as such the doctor will refuse if you do not meet the criteria. Before making a request to the doctor you should speak to the Clerk of the Court who will advise if they require a letter.
Why does my doctor charge fees?
When your doctor is asked to give medical information about you in the form of a report, letter or certificate, the request starts a series of processes.
This takes time and is not always straightforward or simple to complete. Some of the information is not available easily and will mean the doctor has to sort and select the right information for the request.
The doctor also must establish who is funding this work and if it is not part of their NHS work, agree a fee for this.
Surely the work is paid for by the NHS?
Many patients view their doctor as the face of the NHS, representing the free care provided at the point of delivery. However, not all tasks that doctors are asked to perform are covered by the NHS, and many GPs are self-employed.
This means they must cover their own expenses - such as staff, buildings, heating, and lighting - similar to any small business. The NHS only funds NHS-related work, so any service outside of this must be financed through other means, which is why fees are charged.
Why does it take so long?
Your doctor receives large amounts of request and which is often to do with whether your general health allows you to do something e.g. to work, receive benefits, drive, play sport, attend school, own a house, a firearm or it is for insurance, court or other medico-legal reasons.
All requests will vary in complexity, volume and consistency ranging from signing a certificate which can take minutes, to an in-depth report with an examination that can take hours.
Can my doctor say no to this request?
Your doctor is inundated with work. They have to balance their time with treating the sick and making sure they are doing all of this safely and within their professional duties as a doctor.
With certain exceptions written within their contract, doctors do not have to carry out non-NHS work. However, many choose to for the benefit of you and other families they treat.
Where a doctor chooses to undertake the work, we will advise you of the cost to you in advance of undertaking work.
Should their volume of work prove to be greater or more complex than expected, the doctor will contact you to discuss how to proceed.
What can I do to help?
- Not all documents need a signature by a doctor and can be done by other professionals. Please check the form and accompanying guidance as you may get a quicker response that way.
- If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your doctor if he or she is prepared to complete them at the same time to speed up the process.
- Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. Urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this will cost more.
- Do not book an appointment with your doctor to complete forms without checking with your doctor’s administrative staff as to whether you need to or not.