About charging fees
The NHS provides most health care free of charge. However there are a number of other services for which fees are charged. These are mainly for services not covered by the NHS, such as medical reports for insurance companies.
Doctors are involved in a whole range of non-medical work, largely on the basis that they occupy a position of trust within the community, and are in the position to verify the accuracy of information. When GPs sign a certificate or completes a report, it is their professional duty that they check the accuracy of such information. This may involve examining the patient’s entire medical record.
All private Non NHS Work requires payment to be made before work is commenced. Private NHS work has a turnaround of 4-6 weeks. Any private medicals are not completed within an NHS surgery and appointments will be made outside of these hours.
What certificates do I have to pay for?
There are a number of certificates which GPs are obliged to provide free of charge. These include certain certificates supporting claims by patients for social security benefits.
If a patient is off work for seven days or less the GP does not have to provide a sick note. A patient can be refused a note or charged for a private one for illnesses of seven days or less.
See below for a full list of private charges.