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Why
do GPs sometimes charge fees? Your
questions answered |
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Isn't
the NHS supposed to be free? |
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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
made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental
fees; in other cases, it is because the service is not covered
by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance
companies. |
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Surely
the doctor is being paid anyway? |
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It
is important to understand that 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. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but
for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor's costs. |
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What
is covered by the NHS and what is not? |
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The
Government's contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS
patients. In recent years, 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 be sure that information provided
is true and accurate. |
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Is
it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work? |
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The
BMA suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under a
GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional
fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, not
recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates
suggested. You can read more here about
BMA suggested fees. |
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Why
does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form? |
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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 workload - the majority work up to 70 hours a week -
and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so
many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and
weekends. |
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I
only need the doctor's signature - what is the problem? |
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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 or even the Police. |
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What
will I be charged? |
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The
BMA recommends that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be
charged, and how much. It is up to the individual doctor to
decide how much to charge, but the BMA produces lists of
suggested fees which many doctors use. Surgeries often have
lists of fees on the waiting room wall based on these suggested
fees. |
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What
can I do to help? |
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Not
all documents need 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. If you have several forms
requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your GP
if he or she is prepared to complete them all at once as a 'job
lot' at a reduced price. Do not expect your GP to process forms
overnight: urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make
special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this will
cost more. |
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