PRIVATE SERVICES
Some things are not covered by the NHS
PRIVATE MEDICAL SERVICES
You may have to pay a fee for certain services that are not covered by the NHS. These fees reflect the time it takes for the doctor to look at your medical records and some admin time.
Services include things like private health certificates, insurance claim forms, HGV/taxi medicals.
PRIVATE MEDICAL FORMS
There are also times when we are asked for information about a patient’s health, such as when you are applying for a mortgage or life insurance. We only do this with your prior consent and you have the right to see the report before it is sent. To avoid any delays, please make sure you sign the consent form that the company gives you.
NON NHS FEES
Our team will be able to advise you on the fee payable for private services - please be aware that payment will be requested in advance - our team will contact you to advise of the cost and request payment on receipt of your request.
WHY DO WE SOMETIMES CHARGE FEES?
The NHS provides health care for free, but there are exceptions.
It is important to understand that GPs are self-employed and offer their services to the NHS. They have to cover their own costs eg. staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but not for non-NHS work.
The British Medical Association (BMA) suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under a GP's NHS contract. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested.
WHY CAN IT TAKE A LONG TIME TO COMPLETE A FORM?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients. Most GPs have a very heavy NHS workload and this paperwork is done around their NHS workload and patient care.
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. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, therefore, the doctor might have to check the patient's entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor.
The Doctors do NOT sign the following forms:
- Shotgun Licences
- Naturalisation Forms
- Passport Applications
- Leeds City Council Welfare Rights Forms
- Housing Benefits Forms
- Blue Badge Form (Now done by council)
- Student Failure to Attend Exams
