Services Outside The NHS
Last Updated: Friday, 20 September 2024The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions. This is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example medical reports for insurance companies, claim forms for referral for private care and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge for are:
- Certain travel vaccinations
- Private medical insurance reports
- Holiday cancellation claim forms
- Referral for private care forms
- Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient.
Our staff will advise you on any charges we may need to make.
Please note that in the past we have completed reports and forms before payment has been made but have sadly found there to be too many occasions when the doctor has given up the time to do the work, but the fee has not been forthcoming. Therefore, from the 1st June 2022, the fee must be paid in advance at the time the request for the letter or form to be completed is made.
Some medicals can only be performed by specialist approved doctors e.g. professional diving, pilots, emigration to Australia etc so we may not always be able to do your medical.
Please be aware that doctors are no longer allowed to sign passport photographs or driving licence applications.
Accessing Private Healthcare
Many patients are accessing private healthcare and appointments with private clinics. These services may ask for information from your GP prior to attending. It is important to clarify what your private provider requires before contacting the GP surgery. Most information can be accessed via the NHS app.
If you wish to have a letter for your private appointment, please put this request in writing to us. If you do require a GP appointment we will contact you to arrange it.
Please note that the practice is not able to recommend a private provider. The patient must decide on which service they access.
Once you have been to your private clinic, they may advise on the need to access services within the NHS. Currently private providers are able to refer directly to NHS services and we would always encourage them to do so to avoid delays caused by directing via the GP. This also reduces the administrative burden at the practice allowing us to concentrate on our own NHS work.
Occasionally the private provider may recommend tests or medications to be issued via the NHS/ GP practice. In keeping with current guidelines, we will treat these requests in the same way we would treat a request made by an NHS clinic. We would expect that first prescriptions for urgent items would be issued by the clinic and any tests that they require would also be arranged via that clinic.
We do not change private prescriptions for NHS or arrange tests for private clinics unless we would offer that same service to a patient who was seen on the NHS.
Specific services which fall outside the remit of the NHS
Aftercare for patients who have self-funded bariatric surgery
This is not routinely commissioned by Cheshire & Merseyside ICB within the NHS locally therefore is not available from Ellergreen Medical Centre.
Post-operative support following bariatric surgery requires specialist input that may be available from the provider that undertook your surgery or via an alternative self-funded route. Specialist NHS services provide this aftercare for patients who have undergone their bariatric surgery within the NHS.
If you had your bariatric surgery abroad: Government advice, NHS advice and some patient support groups’ advice on accessing treatment abroad all advise that patients must be clear about how aftercare will be coordinated and provided after surgery, and that patients may be responsible for costs of the aftercare and of possible return trips associated with aftercare. Patients who have paid for bariatric surgery abroad have a responsibility to review and plan for all points in the recommended Treatment Abroad checklist and can choose to buy a standalone package of post-operative care through a UK independent sector provider, or other non-UK provider. It is important to understand how medical treatment abroad works and what risks are involved. If you do not follow correct procedures, you may have to pay the full costs of your treatment. You can find more information online here.
Please be reassured that NHS emergency services are available should any emergency treatment be required as a result of any issues arising from your bariatric surgery.
Private Work
Please be aware we do not undertake private work that may involve specialist assessments or activities which present a significant risk of vicarious liability. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Fitness to fly assessments
- Clearance for high-risk sports (e.g. mountaineering, skydiving, paragliding
- Certification for participation in sporting events (e.g. marathons, triathlons)
- Diving medicals (beyond DVLA Statements of fact) or fitness to dive
- Medical certifications for extreme sports or adventure travel
These types of private work often require specialist knowledge and expertise that fall outside the general practice remit. Moreover, issuing certifications for such activities may expose the GP surgery to potential legal risks, including vicarious liability, if an adverse event occurs.
Our GPs are trained to provide general medical services and support within the NHS framework. Specialist assessments should be undertaken by professionals with specific expertise in those fields, and we encourage patients to seek advice from appropriately qualified clinicians or agencies for such requests.
These might include:
- Occupational health specialists
- Sports physicians
- Aviation or diving medical examiners
- Travel medicine clinics
If you have any further questions or require clarification regarding this policy, please contact our practice manager.