Fees and Charges Leaflet

Your questions answered

The NHS provides most health care to most people free of charge but there are exceptions. Prescription charges have existed since 1951 and there are other services for which fees are charged. Sometimes the charge covers the cost of treatment, for example dental fees. In other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, such as medical reports for insurance companies.

The Government’s contract with GP’s covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years more organisations have been involving doctors in a 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.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GP’s can charge their NHS patients are:

  • Accident / Sickness insurance Certificates
  • Certain Travel Vaccinations
  • Private Medical Insurance Reports
  • Some DVLA reports

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions:

  • Life assurance and income protection reports for insurance companies
  • Some reports for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the DVLA
  • Medical reports for local authorities in connection with adopting and fostering
The BMA suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the suggested rate.
Please see our fee list.
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of patients. Most GP’s have a very heavy workload, and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.  Non-NHS work is done in the GP’s own time.
Not all documents need a signature from a doctor, for example Passport/Driving Licence applications can be signed by another person in a position of trust, e.g. a pharmacist.

You will need to complete a triage form via the website under admin request/Doctor’s letter. This will go to our finance team who will take payment, once the payment is taken it can take up to 28 days to process.

PRACTICE INFORMATION     
Practice Email addressBobicb-ox.churchstreetpractice@nhs.net
Practice Web sitewww.wantagechurchstreet.co.uk
Telephone Numbers Appointments01235 770245
Prescriptions advice           01235 770245
General Enquiries and Results 01235 770245 Please telephone after 10.30 a.m.
Out of Hours – Emergencies and Advice111 (An easy number to remember when you need help or advice on any medical problem)  

Policy on Issuance of Private Letters or Forms for certain activities

Purpose:

This policy outlines our position on providing private medical letters, clearances or form completions for participation in certain high-risk or non-essential activities.

Policy Statement:

To manage medico-legal risks and in recognition of our NHS professional indemnity limitations, we do not provide private letters, medical clearances or complete forms related to participation in the following non-essential or voluntary activities, including but not limited to:

  • Marathon or endurance event participation
  • SCUBA diving or other underwater sports
  • Parachuting, skydiving or aviation related leisure activities
  • High altitude trekking or mountaineering
  • Contact or extreme sports

Rationale

The provision of documentation of such activities may imply a guarantee of safety or medical fitness, which is beyond the scope of a routine clinical assessment and may expose the practitioner and the practice to vicarious liability. Furthermore, our NHS professional indemnity insurance does not extend to such private certificates, and we are not able to make specific risk assessments required for these activities.

Alternative Advice:

Patients seeking certification for these activities should consult with the relevant event organizers or specialist providers, who may offer or recommend specific medical assessments by appropriately indemnified practitioners. This will need to be done privately as this is not an NHS service.

Do I have to pay for Travel Immunisations?

Many immunisations for travel are not covered by the NHS and will be charged for.

The current practice charges for non-NHS travel vaccinations are as follows:

Travel vaccinations
Polio, Hep A, typhoid, Cholera£0.00Free on NHS
Hepatitis B£150.00For three doses
Japanese encephalitis£196.00For two doses
Tick-borne encephalitis£130-£195For 2/3 doses
Meningitis£50.00Single dose
Rabies£186.00For three doses
Yellow fever£65.00Single dose
Malaria£35 – £109dependent on type of tablets and consultation

You will be asked to pay for vaccinations in advance of them being administered.

If you are travelling abroad more information can be found on our website. 

You will need to book an appointment with a nurse at least one month in advance of travelling and bring the travel risk questionnaire (available on the website) to your appointment. Upon booking you will be asked the following:

  • where you are going,
  • when you are going

 If you are travelling in less than a month you may be signposted to an alternative travel clinic.

We accept payment by cash/debit and credit card.

(Revised July 2025)