The NHS is predominantly a healthcare service providing medical care. There are some services that the NHS does not cover, particularly requests for forms, private examinations, letters unrelated to referrals and reports.
The British Medical Association explains further why there are charges for certain requests here.
Details of charges are as follows:
| Certificates/Letters of Fact | Fee |
| Certifying documents, e.g. bus pass, pension, blue badge, etc. | £20.00 |
| Written confirmation of registration | £20.00 |
| Letter - quick statement of fact | £20.00 |
| Letter - statement of medicines - fit to fly pregnancy | £20.00 |
| Private prescription | £35.00 |
| Private sickness certificate | £35.00 |
| Housing letter (patients with serious mental illness may be exempt) | £35.00 |
| Private vaccination certificate | £35.00 |
| Passport photo – Doctors do not verify passport applications | |
| Reports, claims and Specialist Medical Opinion | Fee |
| Fitness opinion – Doctors not insured to provide private fitness/safety opinion | |
| Holiday cancellation – factual statement | £40.00 |
| To whom it may concern (TWIMC) letter | £35.00 |
| Private medical insurance application – factual report, no examination | £40.00 |
| Factual claims (no examination), e.g. medical insurance, travel insurance, school, etc. | £40.00 |
| Factual reports (no examination) e.g. solicitor, work, Power of Attorney, etc. | £85.00 |
| Employer’s report – factual statement | £80.00 |
| Insurance company report: Supplementary additional information Medical examination with report |
£104.00 |
| Firearms licence application | £90.00 |
| Government reports | Nationally set charges |
| Debt and Mental Health evidence form | No charge |
| Medical Examinations with Reports | Fee |
| Driver examination, e.g. HGV, LGV, taxi, PCV, elderly driver, etc. | £180.00 |
| Pre-employment medical examination and report | £150.00 £100 NHS or local authority |
| Other medical examinations with reports | £180.00 |
| Private Patient – only in very exceptional circumstances. Please speak to reception | |
| Non-NHS Vaccinations and Travel Most vaccinations are available on NHS – please speak to reception Travel vaccinations not covered by NHS are available at many pharmacies |
There are also some medical forms or letters that the GPs cannot provide (despite some organisations telling people to go to their doctor). In particular, they cannot say with any certainty whether someone is fit enough to do an activity such as scuba diving, driving or adrenaline sports. There are private GP services available who will carry out an examination and complete a report but these are not offered at Midway Surgery.