Non-NHS work

• Private medical insurance reports
• HGV licences and DVLA forms
• Holiday cancellation forms
• Letters requested by, or on behalf, of a patient

We are asked to fill in many forms for charity or fundraising events. The practice does not favour one charity or event over another so the fee cannot be waived.

Please allow up to 28 days for the work to be completed. The practice has a substantial volume of non-NHS work to complete weekly and it is all done in addition to the NHS work and hours. An additional charge may be levied for more urgent requests.

When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, they have to take time to review the patient’s records first. Some forms, such as an initial gun licence, require the GP to review the medical records from birth to present day.

Each doctor must also pay a three to four figure sum for indemnity each year, a significant proportion of which is solely to cover the completion of these non-NHS documents. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council or even the police.

Please see our list of private fees and charges (PDF).

1. All requests for private work need to be submitted in writing, email or by using the “Contact The Surgery” option on the website.
2. For completion of a form, please supply the form and all other relevant paperwork/information. On all forms please ensure your personal details (name, address etc) are completed and signed as required before submitting to the Practice.
3. Your request is received and processed by our private administration team. The request is documented and the paperwork is then prepared for distribution to the GP.
4. For DVLA medicals (D4 form), please ensure you have the vision assessment completed prior to submitting the form to the Practice.
5. The GP will then confirm the fee payable for completion of the work.
6. We will contact you to confirm this fee. If you are required to pay prior to completion of the work, you will be notified.
7. Once the fee has been confirmed with you, the paperwork is given back to the GP for completion.
8. Once completed, the GP returns the paperwork to the private administration team.
9. The team will then: Record the request on your medical records; Complete any further action necessary; Notify you that the paperwork and invoice is ready

• Not all documents need a signature by a doctor, for example passport applications. You can ask another person in a position of trust to sign such documents free of charge. Read the information that comes with these types of forms carefully before requesting your GP to complete them.
• Ensure you have enclosed all relevant paperwork and information with your request, and completed in full any parts of the form you are required to complete as the patient. Missing information may mean the GP is unable to complete the request and this may lengthen the process.
• Please be patient with us. With certain limited exceptions, GPs are not obliged to carry out private (non-NHS) work on behalf of their patients. Whilst our GPs will always try to assist with this where possible, as NHS providers, our priority must remain NHS care.