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Fees for part-time medical services

December 2004

General practitioners
NHS general practitioners are required by their terms of service (go to reference 1) to render to patients on their lists the following essential services.

• Management of patients who are ill or believe themselves to be ill, with conditions from which recovery is generally expected, for the duration of that condition, including relevant health promotion advice and referral as appropriate, reflecting patient choice wherever practicable.
• General management of patients who are terminally ill.
• Management of chronic disease in the manner determined by the practice, in discussion with the patient.

They may only demand or accept a fee or other remuneration for any treatment, including private prescriptions for drugs not prescribable under the NHS, or for maternity medical services to any person on their list where specifically provided for in the terms of service. They must also take all practicable steps to ensure that any partner, deputy or assistant does not demand or accept a fee unless provided for in the terms of service.

The full list of services for which a charge may be made under GPs’ terms and conditions of service, together with the conditions attached, are given in the Terms of service for NHS general practitioners relating to the acceptance of fees (read more here).

While some certificates may be charged for, NHS general practitioners are obliged to provide a number of certificates free of charge. These include certain certificates supporting some claims by their patients for social security benefits, and those enabling their patient to register as an absent voter on grounds of physical disability, or to establish unfitness for jury service (go to the full list here).

1. NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 2004 schedule 2 paragraph 2.8