Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance claim forms
- Passport signing
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private sick notes
- Vaccination certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.
Information for Patients Considering Private Medical Consultations
When you are see a private specialist you should be aware what may happen about medication you may need after the consultation.
- Independent Private referral
People who refer themselves to a consultant independently of the GP (i.e. outside the NHS), whether in the UK or abroad, are expected to pay the full cost of any treatment they receive in relation to the care provided privately.
- Private referral through your GP
After a private referral made by your GP, your private specialist may give you a prescription. Sometimes you may only need one prescription. The prescription provided by your private specialist will be a private prescription and you must pay for the medication. If you need continued treatment you may be given just one private prescription (which you will need to pay for) and advised to return to your GP to see if further NHS prescriptions can be provided.
A NHS prescription to continue your treatment will only be provided if your GP considers there is a clinical need and that an NHS patient would be treated in the same way; there is no obligation for the GP to prescribe the treatment recommended by a private specialist. In order to judge your clinical need your GP must have received a full clinical report from the private specialist and therefore you may not be able to have a prescription immediately.
GPs have agreed to prescribe in line with local policies. If the recommendation from your private specialist is for treatment that is not in line with local policies, then your GP may change the medication in line with the drugs used for NHS patients. If the GP feels the treatment is for a specialist area the GP can ask the specialist to remain responsible for the treatment and to provide further prescriptions which the patient will need to pay for.