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Private Services

Information About Private Services

Most healthcare provided by our practice is funded by the NHS and is available to eligible patients without charge. However, some requests fall outside the services covered by our NHS contract. These are known as private or non-NHS services and may attract a fee.

Examples include certain medical reports, insurance forms, fitness certificates, private letters, and specific medical examinations requested by employers or third parties.

Our fees are reviewed periodically and are based on the time, administration, professional expertise, and clinical responsibility involved. Fee structures are informed by guidance from the British Medical Association (BMA) and relevant NHS Wales guidance where applicable.

In most cases, payment is required before work can begin. Our reception team will advise you of any applicable charges when you make your request.


Why Are Some Services Chargeable?

GP practices provide a wide range of services under their NHS contract. However, many organisations, employers, insurers, and private agencies request medical information, reports, or assessments that are not part of NHS-funded care.

As independent contractors providing NHS services, General Practitioners are not funded by the NHS to undertake this additional work. Any fees charged contribute towards the clinician's time, administrative support, record review, report preparation, and associated practice costs.

Where a doctor signs a form or produces a report, they are professionally accountable for the information provided and must ensure that the content is accurate and supported by the medical record.


Typical Private Services Available

The practice may be able to assist with:

  • Medical examinations for special purposes
  • Taxi, LGV, HGV and PCV driver medicals
  • Holiday cancellation certificates
  • Fitness to travel documentation
  • Private sick notes
  • Insurance forms and reports
  • Occupational health and employment-related forms
  • Letters requested by patients or third parties
  • Certain vaccination services not covered by NHS provision
  • Certification and verification forms where clinical review is required

Availability may vary depending on clinical capacity and the nature of the request.


Current Fee Guide

The following fees are provided as a guide and may be subject to review.

Service Fee
Health Medical Examination (including report) £150
Taxi / LGV / HGV / PCV Medical Examination and Report £150
Holiday Cancellation Certificate £55 - £75
Fitness to Travel Form £50
Sickness or Accident Form £50
Private Sick Note £40
General "To Whom It May Concern" Letter From £50
GP or Nurse Practitioner Signature on External Forms £25
Hepatitis B Vaccination Services Please contact reception for current charges

Please allow up to 40 working days from receipt of payment and all required information for completion of private work requests.

Urgent requests cannot always be accommodated.


Medical Examinations

Some private services require a face-to-face appointment with a clinician before documentation can be completed.

Examples include:

  • Taxi driver medicals
  • HGV/LGV medicals
  • Occupational assessments
  • Insurance examinations
  • Elderly driver medicals

Patients requesting these services will normally be added to a waiting list and contacted when a suitable appointment becomes available.


Services We DO NOT Currently Offer

To ensure our clinicians can prioritise NHS patient care, the practice is unable to provide some requested services.

  • Housing Support Letters and Forms

We do not currently complete housing association support forms or housing priority applications.

Patients seeking housing advice or support may wish to contact: 

          Citizens Advice Merthyr Tydfil - Cyngor ar Bopeth Merthyr Tydfil

          Housing | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

          Living Merthyr Tydfil

  • Passport Applications

The practice does not complete passport application forms or countersign passport photographs.

  • Blue Badge Applications

The practice no longer completes Blue Badge application forms.

Blue Badge assessments and applications can be made directly via the council:  The Blue Badge Scheme | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

In most cases, supporting information from your GP is not required.


FAQs 
What is the difference between NHS and private work?

NHS work is funded through the practice's NHS contract and includes consultations, diagnosis, treatment, prescriptions, referrals, and ongoing care.

Private work relates to services requested by patients, employers, insurers, solicitors, educational establishments, or other organisations that sit outside NHS-funded care.


Why can't my request be completed immediately?

GPs and clinicians must prioritise NHS patient care.

Private work is completed alongside a busy clinical workload and often requires:

  • Reviewing medical records
  • Verifying information
  • Completing forms
  • Drafting reports
  • Ensuring legal and professional obligations are met

As a result, private requests can take several weeks to complete.


Why am I being charged when my medical information belongs to me?

Accessing your existing medical records through a Subject Access Request (SAR) is usually free.

However, when a clinician is asked to write a new letter, complete a form, provide an opinion, review records, or produce a report, this is considered private work and falls outside NHS-funded services.


I only need a signature. Why is there a fee?

Before signing any document, a clinician must ensure the contents are accurate and supported by the medical record.

Even apparently simple requests may require:

  • Reviewing clinical notes
  • Checking medications
  • Confirming diagnoses
  • Assessing eligibility criteria

The clinician accepts professional responsibility for anything signed or certified.


Can I request a supporting letter for housing, school, university, or benefits?

In many situations, organisations should request information directly from statutory services rather than asking patients to obtain GP letters.

Where such requests fall outside NHS work, fees may apply. 

Our reception team can advise on alternative sources of support.


Do I need to pay before the work is completed?

Yes. For most private services, payment is required before work begins.

This helps us process requests efficiently and allocate clinician time appropriately.


How long will my request take?

Private work requests generally take up to 40 working days following receipt of:

  • Payment (where applicable)
  • Any required forms
  • Supporting information
  • Completion of any necessary medical examination

Complex reports may occasionally require additional time.


Need Further Information?

If you are unsure whether your request is covered by NHS services or falls under private work, please contact our reception team. We will be happy to explain the process, likely timescales, and any applicable fees before your request is submitted.