Non-NHS Services

Non-NHS Services at The Waterfront Medical Centre include completion of private sick notes, insurance forms, holiday cancellation forms, and medical reports.

Our fees for these services, can be requested by emailing the Practice on: mainreception.w97032@wales.nhs.uk. Alternatively, they are displayed in our main reception area.

We ask for 28 days to complete private forms, in case they need to be completed by a specific Doctor, who may be on annual leave at the time.  We request full payment is made prior to completion of all private forms and you will be issued with a receipt upon payment.

Payment can be made by credit/debit card at the surgery reception.

Why are fees charged?

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS Patients. However, in recent years more and more organisations have been involving Doctors in a wide range of non NHS work. This work is not funded by the Government, and so GPs have to charge a fee to cover their time and expenses.

I only need the GPs signature – what’s the problem? 

When a GP signs a certificate, completes a report or writes a letter it is a condition of remaining on the medical register which allows them to practice as a Doctor, that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, the Doctor may need to check a patient’s entire medical record. 

Surely the GP is being paid anyway? 

It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS. They are self employed and they have to cover the costs of everything from the limited NHS funds provided – staff wages, buildings, heating and lighting, in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers costs for NHS work, but not for non NHS work. The fees charged by GPs contribute to towards keeping the surgery running.

Do GPs have to do non NHS work for their patients?

With certain limited exceptions, GPs do not have to carryout non NHS work. Many GPs however will always attempt to assist their patients and carry out this work.

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form / letter?

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of patients which will always take top priority. GPs have an ever increasing workload of forms which must be prioritised against offering appointments and other urgent administration.