Private Fees

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Why Do GP’s Charge Fees?

The NHS provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions.

Most GP’s have a heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. The NHS pays the doctor for specific NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs. Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his/her patients.

Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have very serious consequences for the doctor therefore, to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor needs to check the patient’s entire medical record.

In order to focus on providing the best health care for our patients the Liphook & Liss Surgery will no longer routinely take on additional non-NHS work that can be more suitably be provided elsewhere.

Any decision to offer a private service will be at the discretion of the GP.

Letters about Housing

The local Council does not require GP letters when you seek housing or rehousing, even on medical grounds. Therefore Liphook and Liss Surgery does not provide letters regarding housing/rehousing. You are entitled to a print-out of your medical record if you believe this will assist your application. Please see below for fees payable.

Letters about missing a Court appearance

Unless requested in writing by the court. Any other letters carry no weight in the courts. Your solicitor can advise you further.

Letters about missed Exams

There is no obligation on GPs to provide sick notes for schools or for missed exams. Usually the school can request special consideration.

Recording Injuries for Police or Insurance purposes

In the case of an alleged assault, a police surgeon (forensic medical practitioner) must assess and document injuries. This is not an NHS service and we are not trained to do this work to the standard required for the courts.

Likewise, attending the surgery for documentation (not treatment) of injuries from a car accident is not an NHS service, and is not appropriate. Your insurance company can advise you further.

Will-Writing Capacity (testamentary capacity) & Power of Attorney

Testamentary capacity is a highly specialised area of medico-legal practice with important implications for the patient and their family. Therefore we recommend that the solicitor seek an expert opinion, for example from a consultant psycho-geriatrician.

Applications for Passports, Visas, Character references

Liphook and Liss Surgery does not offer these reports/signatures. The organisation supplying these forms will be able to suggest alternative signatories.

Fitness for Diving

Diving medicals are a highly specialised area of medicine, and your diving instructor can advise you how to find a suitably qualified doctor to assess your fitness to dive. We can supply you with a print-out of your medical records for their consideration. A fee is required for photocopying.

Fitness for Exercise or Gym

We encourage all our patients to exercise as it is generally very good for you and is an excellent treatment for many common conditions. The risk that harm would come to you by exercising is low; however we cannot say that it is 100% safe for anyone to exercise. As such the risk is entirely between you and your gym instructor, following the guidelines at your particular gym.

Fitness for Parachute Jumps and other “risky” activities

Liphook and Liss Surgery cannot advise on fitness to partake in dangerous activities such as parachute jumps, mountain climbing etc., as this is outside our field of expertise and not part of the NHS service. Please ask your instructor about any concerns you have regarding safety for these activities. We can supply a print-out of your medical records for their consideration. A fee is required for photocopying

This list is for guidance only.

The BMA (British Medical Association) recommends that GP’s tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and how much but it is up to the individual practice to decide how much to charge.

Liphook & Liss Surgery Charges

Travel / Occupational Vaccinations

• Hepatitis A No Charge
• Hepatitis B (3 or 4 injections per course) £35.00 each
• Japanese B Encephalitis (2 or 3 injections per course) £196.00 for course
• Meningitis A&C (1 injection only) £50.00
• Rabies (3 injections per course) £50.00 each
• Tick Borne Encephalitis (3 injections per course) £65.00 each
• Typhoid No Charge
• Yellow Fever (1 injection only) £52.50

Certificates of Fact/Letters

£25.00 e.g.

• Private Medical Certificate( now Fitness to Work),
• Vaccination Certificate
• Holiday Cancellation Claim.
• Certificate of Incapacity.
• Private Health Insurance Claims (without examination)

Medical Reports that require a GP appointment (eg for HGV, Taxi Driver)

• 30 Minute appointment. £120.00 Payable in advance.

Copies of Medical Records

• No charge

Clinical Procedures

• Taking blood for testing. £25.00 (Hospital will charge separately for processing)

Consultation Fees

• Consultation with Doctor (15 mins) £40.00
• Consultation with Nurse (10 mins) £25.00
• Dressings and drugs will be charged separately.