Some services provided by us are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates
• To Whom it May Concern Letters

Watership Down Health are currently outsourcing certain privately funded requests to Medi2data, who will process these securely on our behalf. Where this is the case, you will be informed. Medi2data will advise you directly of their fees and timescales.

Watership Down Health do not currently provide the following services:

• Passport or ID signing and/or verification
• Fitness for any sporting/leisure event
• Fitness to Fly
• Fitness to Travel

Please note that private work is done on top of NHS duties which will remain the GPs priority. Our current timeframe for completion of private work is 2-4 weeks. We would ask patients not to chase completion of their work within this timeframe.

We are aware that currently some airlines are advising travellers wanting to bring medication in their hand luggage, that they should bring a letter from their medical practitioner confirming the type of medication and what it is for. Patient’s are able to print off their medical records from the NHS app to provide to the airline. Alternatively, patients can request a letter from their GP outlining their medication. Travel-related letters are chargeable with the cost to be funded by the patient.

FAQs Regarding Private And Professional Fees For Non-NHS Work

Below is a collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding non-NHS work fees.

The information can be verified on the BMA website and, as with all information on our website, it is best to check with us to make sure that the prices given are current and correct.

Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions: prescription charges have existed since 1951 and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged.

Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that GPs are only funded for NHS work. Where time is need to complete private work, the costs need to be funded by the patient or person requesting the GPs time for doing this.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their own NHS patients are:

• Accident/sickness certificates for insurance purposes.
• Reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise.
• Pre-employment medicals, as requested by employers
• Private letters for travel, employment, or exemption purposes
• Insurance claim forms

Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?

With certain limited exceptions, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients.

Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms, for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients and their NHS duties. Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.
I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?

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 with the General Medical Council (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the Police.

Fees For Non-NHS Services

The fees charged below are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

• For more information and a list of fees, please see our Non NHS Service Fees

Please ask reception using our online form if your request is not specified above.