What is non-NHS work and why is there a fee?
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.
Sometimes the charge is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, producing medical reports for insurance companies, solicitors or employers.
The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients but not non-NHS work. It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self-employed and they have to cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc. – in the same way as any small business.
In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to ensure that the information provided to them is true and accurate.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their own NHS patients are:
- accident/sickness certificates for insurance purposes
- school fee and holiday insurance certificates
- reports for health clubs to certify that patients are fit to exercise
- private prescriptions for travel purposes
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
- life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
- reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in connection with disability living allowance and attendance allowance
- medical reports for local authorities in connection with adoption and fostering
Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?
With certain limited exceptions, for example, a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, 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, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.
Please note our practice outsources our medical reporting to MediData, who will process your medical report using their system, eMR, but only once we pass your request onto them.
What is eMR/MediData?
MediData is an NHS Digital accredited company who have developed a digital system called eMR, which enables GP practices to create digital, GDPR-compliant medical reports.
eMR helps GP Surgeries with data security, speed, and efficiency.
eMR also helps you to easily see your medical data, stay in control of it and decide who you want to share it with.
MediData has worked hard to develop their NHS GP IT Futures accredited technology, eMR, which interfaces with our GP practice’s system to extract your medical record. This means you can receive a full copy of that information securely and share it with others as you wish, keeping your data safe.
If you wish to speak to a member of the MediData team regarding your medical report, or any concerns you may have regarding your data, don’t hesitate to get in touch with MediData directly on:
Phone – 0333 3055 774
Email – [email protected]
LiveChat – to access this, go to https://www.medi2data.com/ and select the speech bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of the page”.
What will I be charged?
There may be a charge, and either EMR or Grasmere will inform you as such depending on the work requested.
What can you do to help?
- Not all documents need a signature by a doctor, for example, passport applications. You can ask another person in a position of trust to sign such documents free of charge. Read the information that comes with these forms carefully before requesting your GP to complete them.
- If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once to speed up the process.
- Do not expect your forms to be processed overnight: urgent requests may mean that special arrangements will need to be put in to process the form quickly, and this may cost more. Usually, non-NHS work may take up to 28 days to process.
- Send in your request to Grasmere Surgery, and if you do not want eMR to deal with your request for information, please let us know straight away.
For information
• Subject Access Requests – are to be completed within a month.
• Private letters to be actioned within a month.
• Insurance Reports – once the fees are paid are to be actioned within 21 days
FYIO – we do not sign passports.
