The NHS provides most health care free of charge. However there are a number of other services for which fees can be charged. These are mainly for services not covered by the NHS, such as medical reports for insurance companies, private medicals etc.

It is important to understand that GP’s are contracted by the NHS but they are also self employed, and they have to 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 the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of our patients. Most GP’s have a very heavy workload. The majority of GP’s work up to 60 hours a week and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. In addition non-NHS work must be undertaken outside of NHS contracted time.

If you have asked your GP to complete a form or write a letter please bear in mind that most requests will take at least a week to ten days and please settle promptly.