Non-NHS Services - Letters, forms & fees
The National Health Service (NHS) provides the majority of healthcare services to most residents free of charge. However, there are instances where specific services are not covered by the NHS. These include, but are not limited to, medical reports required by insurance companies, and any documentation that necessitates the doctor to review the patient's medical records for purposes outside of standard NHS care. It is important to understand that GP's are not employed by the NHS, they are self employed, and have to cover their costs- staff, buildings, heating, lighting etc - in the same way as any small business.
The processing time for medical forms and letters varies depending on complexity. We aim to complete most forms within 14-28 working days. Urgent requests may require special arrangements and may not always be possible as completing paperwork takes time away from physical patient care. GPs have heavy workloads, and paperwork significantly contributes to this. Non-NHS work, such as processing these forms, is typically conducted outside of contracted NHS hours.
You can find more information regarding charges and timeframes on the British Medical Association website.
Please note:
Not all documents require a GP’s signature. For example, passport applications can often be signed by another individual in a recognised position of trust, free of charge.
For passport or naturalisation applications, a GP must have known the patient for a sufficient period of time. In the case of a child, this applies to the parents. The GP may decline to sign if they do not know the patient well enough or feel they would be unable to reliably identify the individual from the photograph.
Please be aware that some reports may take longer to complete, as the GP may need to review your full medical record. Accuracy is essential, and any errors or omissions could have serious professional consequences for the doctor, including investigation by the General Medical Council (GMC) or other authorities.
Whilst GPs will always try to assist patients with the completion of forms (for example, for insurance purposes), this work falls outside of NHS services and is not a contractual requirement.
Where possible, we encourage patients to access their medical records via a Subject Access Request (SAR) to obtain the information they need, which may help avoid additional fees. Any letters or forms completed by a GP can only include factual information already recorded in your notes, which you also have access to. For this reason, reviewing your records may often be the quickest and most appropriate option.
Please note that we are unable to provide personal opinions as part of these requests.
Prepayment is required for all private forms and reports.