Private Services
Information about Private Referrals
If a patient has chosen to pay for private healthcare because
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- a) their treatment is not available on the NHS or
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- b) they do not wish to be treated on the NHS
They are responsible for paying for all costs, including tests, and the private provider is responsible for managing every aspect of their healthcare (unless the patient chooses to transfer back to the NHS at a later date to continue treatment).
For that reason, private providers should not be asking GPs to arrange any tests that they deem necessary, and intend to use, to make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment with.
It is the private provider’s responsibility to arrange tests for patients whose care they are managing, and the patient’s responsibility to pay for them.
Private Prescriptions and Tests
We are receiving numerous requests from patients to have medication that has been prescribed to them privately issued on the NHS.
Crwys Medical Centre DOES NOT have to issue any private prescriptions that have been issued or recommended by a private practitioner. Patients are expected to pay the full cost of any treatment they receive in relation to the care provided privately; consultation fees, diagnostic tests (e.g. requests for blood tests, BP check, ECGs, etc.), drugs prescribed or treatment provided by a clinician in the course of a private consultation should be at the patient’s expense.
Our GPs may consider and agree to take over prescribing once you have been discharged by your private consultant. We can only do so if you have been discharged appropriately, and the treatment you are receiving falls within the scope and recommendations of the NHS. If your episode of private care is ongoing, or the consultant has discharged you prior to the completion of your care, we will not be able to get involved. Ultimately, it is down to the doctor’s judgment on whether we are able to take on the clinical responsibility of their medication. There are many factors that the GP has to consider, however if you disagree with their judgement you may contact the practice manager, who can arrange for a second opinion.
It is worth noting that there are numerous exceptions where we cannot issue a prescription for you in any circumstances; not all medicines are available on the NHS, and some medicines can be dangerous and require careful monitoring that cannot be undertaken in primary care.
Current guidance can be found below:
https://awttc.nhs.wales/files/guidelines-and-pils/prescribing-dilemmas-a-guide-for-prescribers-pdf2/
Screening tests carried out by private providers which have not been approved by the UK National Screening Committee
The practice supports the national guidance which can be found on the RCGP website.
If the patient chooses to have private screening tests or investigations that are not available or recommended by the NHS, they should ensure that they have the funds or insurance in place to cover the costs of any additional treatment or investigation that is incurred as the NHS may not cover these.
Non NHS Services - Private Work Fees
Medical examinations for special purposes e.g. elderly drivers, pre-employment, insurance medicals can be arranged by appointment. A fee is payable for these examinations. The doctors will complete certain forms and certificates requested by the patient, for example private sick notes and fitness to travel forms. A charge is payable for providing non NHS forms and certificates.
Details of current fees are below.
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Adoption and Fostering |
Who pays |
Charge |
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Adoption fees normally paid by parent; fostering by NHS, but sometimes paid by the adoption/fostering agency |
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Form IHA Initial Health Assessment |
£120.00 |
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Form AH Health assessment, Prospective carer |
£77.07 |
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Form AH2 Update report, parent/carer |
£35.00 |
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Certificates and forms |
Who pays |
Charge |
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Freedom from infection certificate |
Patient |
£35.00 |
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Letter re fitness to exercise, travel, weight watchers, slimming world compete cycling race or marathon etc – with no exam |
Patient |
£40.00 |
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Private Sick Note (any sick note within 7 days is private) |
Patient |
£35.00 |
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Private Health Insurance claim form (e.g. BUPA/PPP) |
Patient |
£60.00 |
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Dentists, completion of Application for first registration of a dentist (GDC) |
Patient |
£50.00 |
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Camp America |
Patient |
£75.00 |
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Dental Council |
Patient |
£70.00 |
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Student Health Forms (DSA etc) |
Patient |
£35.00 |
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Welsh Water Assist |
Patient |
£30.00 |
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Driving |
Who pays |
Charge |
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Taxi Medical |
Patient |
£140.00 |
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PSV Medical |
Patient |
£140.00 |
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HGV Medical |
Patient |
£140.00 |
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Employment/Insurance |
Who pays |
Charge |
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Full medical with report or certificate |
Patient/Employer/Insurance |
£170.00 |
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Report without examination |
Patient/Employer/Insurance |
£150.00 |
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Report on Pro-forma |
Patient/Employer/Insurance |
£130.00 |
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Questionnaire |
Patient/Employer/Insurance |
£120.00 |
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Letter to disclose History eg. Heart Disease |
Patient/Employer/Insurance |
£60.00 |
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GP supplementary report |
Insurance Company |
£27.00 |
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Holiday Cancellation form |
Patient |
£80.00 |
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Local Authority/Police/NHS |
Who pays |
Charge |
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Shotgun or Firearms Medical Report |
Patient |
£55.00 |
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Letters |
Who pays |
Charge |
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To whom it may concern letter for (School, University, Work etc) |
Patient |
£40.00 |
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Private Prescription |
Who pays |
Charge |
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Private sick note/prescription |
Patient |
£35.00 |
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Travel Abroad |
Who pays |
Charge |
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Pregnant Woman's Medical Certificate Attesting Fitness to Fly noting their good health and indicating the baby's expected date of birth |
Patient |
£40.00 |
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Fitness to travel certificate - pre-existing illness |
Patient |
£40.00 |
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Vaccination certificate |
Patient |
£35.00 |
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Why do GP’s charge fees?
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions. 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 isn’t covered by the NHS, for example medical reports of insurance companies, claims on private health insurance and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical record.
It is important to understand that GP’s are not employed by the NHS, they are self-employed and they must cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting etc – in the same way as any small business.
The NHS pays the doctor for specific NHS work but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs. Our fees are calculated based on our GPs Private hourly rate.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their patients
- Certain travel vaccinations
- Private medical insurance reports
- Holiday cancellation forms
- Referral for private care forms
- Letters request by, or on behalf of, the patient
- In certain instances fitness to work forms
- HGV/LGV/PCV examinations
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions
- Medical reports for an insurance company
- Some reports for the DSS/Benefit Agency
- Examinations of local authority employees
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his/her patients. Most GPs have a heavy workload – the majority of GPs work up to 60 hours per week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. In addition non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.
I only need the doctor’s 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. Therefore in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor may need to check the patient’s entire record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor, with the General Medical or even the police.
CLICK HERE for the Private Services Request Form