Services which are outwith the NHS Contract
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority of people free of charge, but there are exceptions. GPs are self-employed and are contracted to provide NHS general medical services for their patients.
Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services which fall outside their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them.
Chargeable Fees
Lake Road Medical Practice & John Pounds Surgery
HGV/PSV Medicals
Cost: £100 for our own patients and £100 for any required follow-up.
The DVLA require a medical on first application, at the age of 45, then every 5 years to 65, then annually. The medical can be performed by any doctor registered or practising in the United Kingdom or in any other EU/EEA country. The doctor must complete a D4 form which you should bring with you to your appointment.
We can provide HGV/PSV medicals for any person applying for a licence. Please call Lake Road Medical Practice on 02392 009 117 or John Pounds Surgery on 02392 812 033 to book an appointment.
Taxi Medicals
Cost: £100 for our own patients only, follow up medicals are also £100.
Portsmouth City Council has the following requirement of all those persons holding or applying for a Hackney Carriage Drivers Licence or a Private Hire Driver’s Licence: “That you are medically fit to drive by producing a certificate completed and signed by your own GP or one having immediate access to your medical records and history.
“We require a medical on first application, at the age of 45, then every five years to 65, then annually. ”
Please see Portsmouth City Council website for more information.
We are only able to provide taxi medicals for patients registered at Lake Road Practice. Please call Lake Road Medical Practice on 02392 009 117 or John Pounds Surgery on 02392 812 033 to book an appointment.
Seafarer Medical Examination
Cost: ENG 1 is £115 (from 13th November 2020) and £115 for any required follow-up.
The Marine and Coastguard Agency required that any seafarer employed or engaged in any capacity aboard a sea-going ship, to hold a valid certificate (ENG1) attesting to their medical fitness for the work for which they are employed. It is an offence either to work on a sea-going ship without a valid medical fitness certificate, or to employ.
There are some exemptions to these regulations, based on the type, size and purpose of the vessel. If you are unsure whether you require an ENG1 please contact the MCA on 02380 329249.
Oil & Gas UK Medicals
Cost: £115.
Dr Scott-Brown has been approved to perform Offshore Medicals as required by Oil & Gas UK (formerly UKOOA). These medicals are required for service offshore in the oil industry and by the tripartite Hardanger Agreement are normally acceptable in UK, Norwegian and Dutch sectors of the North Sea.
Oil & Gas UK Medicals have an international reputation and though the organisation specify that they are for North Sea purposes they have permitted them to be used elsewhere where companies assess the standards as appropriate. For this reason your company may be advising that you require this certificate even though you have nothing to do with North Sea Oil work.
Occupational Health Advice
We are happy to offer a service to local companies to assist in medical assessments on appointment of personnel and for health screening and illness support and assessment. Dr Vernon has a particular interest in this field and he is supported by Dr Scott-Brown.
Our charges are based on an hourly rate of £185. Please contact Lake Road Practice on 02392 009 117 to discuss your requirements.
What should I bring to my medical?
When arriving for any medicals performed at Lake Road Practice please ensure that you have the following:
- Photographic ID such as a passport or Driving License
- Name, address and telephone number of your General Practitioner
- Any letters or reports you may have about your recent medical treatment
- A list of any medication you are currently taking
- Please also be aware that a urine sample will be taken
- Spectacles or lenses if worn
- Opticians prescription, dated within 4 months, if spectacles worn when driving
- Please avoid working in noisy environments 24 hours before medical, this may interfere with hearing audiometry testing.
Should you need to, please contact the Practice on 02392 009 117 to confirm what you will need.
Sunnyside Medical Centre
Our fees are based on the British Medical Association recommendations.
It is not always possible for the receptionist to advise you of the exact fee at the time when you make a request, as some forms may need to be assessed by a GP to decide on the level of complexity. In this situation fees may be subject to change, we will contact you before embarking on the work.
| 1. Access to records | Who pays | Fee |
| Computerised records | Patient | Free(if repeatedly requested then an administration charge will be levied) |
| Paper records or a combination of paper and computer records | Patient/Solicitor | Free(if repeatedly requested then an administration charge will be levied) |
| Photocopying (per A4 sheet) | Patient | £0.40 |
| Administration charge for sending documents by recorded delivery | Patient/Solicitor | £10.00 |
| 2. Certificates & forms | Who pays | Fee |
| Lasting power of attorney | Patient | £50 |
| Private Prescription (including malaria) | Patient | £15 |
| Letter re fitness to exercise, travel etc. | Patient | £30-£60 |
| Private sick note | Patient | £30-£60 |
| Fitness for sport, school or university | Patient | £30-£60 |
| 3. Driving | Who pays | Fee |
| Full medical examination and report for HGV, PSV or Taxi Drivers | Patient | £120 (£30 non-refundable deposit taken on booking) |
| 4. Employment | Who pays | Fee |
| Certificate of incapacity – a to whom it may concern letter | Patient | £30-£60 |
| 5. Insurance | Who pays | Fee |
| Insurance claim form (PMI/holiday fit or unfit) | Patient | £30-£60 |
| 6. Other | Who pays | Fee |
| Report on a pro forma, no examination required (20-30 minutes) | Patient | £89.50 |
| Written report with or without examination & requiring detailed review of medical records, providing a detailed option & statement on the condition of the patient (30-60 minutes) | Patient | Up to £130 |
| Simple statement of fact letter (e.g. list of medication for holiday & medical condition summary) | Patient | £18 |
Medical Reports for Solicitors
It is best if your solicitor writes directly to us. They will need to enclose your written permission for us to disclose information to them. We will send our bill direct to them.
Your questions answered
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority people free of charge, but there are exceptions: for example, medical reports for insurance companies.
Surely the Doctor is being paid anyway?
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.
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 to do non-medical work 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.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
- accident/sickness insurance certificates
- certain travel vaccinations
- private medical insurance reports
- statements of fact relating to general health e.g. for children’s dance classes
- Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
- Holiday cancellation claim forms
- Referral for private care forms
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
- medical reports for an insurance company
- some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
- examinations of occupational health
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. 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.
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 or even the Police.
What can I do to help?
- If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once.
- Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight
Examples of Non-NHS Services include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance Claim Forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private Sick Notes
- Vaccination Certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and Practice Reception Staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.