The GPs at Firrhill Medical Centre are self employed and have a contract with the NHS to undertake specific clinical and administrative work. We are often asked to undertake work which is not included in our NHS contract. This work will be privately charged and undertaken in our own time and at our own discretion. We are not able to undertake this work during NHS appointment time. Please note we do not countersign driving licence applications, passport applications, provide health club fitness to exercise certificates, letters to support housing applications, letters of support regarding benefits disputes .

We would ask you to sign the attached form to confirm that you understand the charges and that you wish us to go ahead. For pro rata payments the doctor will attempt to estimate your costs in advance. You will be personally responsible for ensuring that payment is made prior to collection of the completed report.

STANDARDISED CERTIFICATES AND FORMS

MEDICAL REPORTS AND EXAMINATIONS
This includes pre-employment medicals, LGV, PCV, taxi driver. Firrhill Medical Centre charges pro-rata as below depending on the time it takes the GP to assess and complete.
As a guide:

 PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS 

Patients can access NHS ADHD assessment via a GP referral to secondary care. Due to the significant waiting time for assessment some patients are opting to have an assessment done Privately, often remotely and expecting any monitoring or prescriptions recommended to be provided in by their NHS GP.

ADHD medications can only be prescribed under specialist initiation and supervision.  There is a shared care protocol within the NHS to allow prescriptions initiated within the NHS to be provided in a GP setting while the Consultant’s clinic remains responsible for all the assessments, dose regime and monitoring of both physical and mental health responses to this medication.  No such shared care agreement is in place with private health care and, as such, we as GPs are not able to prescribe the ADHD medication in this situation.

A patient will need to have been seen and assessed within the NHS secondary care service before being considered for a shared care arrangement and prescription from the practice. 

Please bear this in mind when considering accessing a private assessment.

Patients can access NHS bariatric surgery services via the Lothian Weight Management Service and must complete the necessary assessment and management processes to meet the criteria for surgery.

Some patients are opting to have their surgery done privately, often overseas and return to the UK hoping or expecting to have their aftercare provided by the NHS.

The NHS is not responsible for providing routine aftercare for private procedures and this has been discussed at and confirmed by the Lothian Medical Committee and Bariatric Surgery Service.

Routine aftercare includes blood monitoring, blood pressure and weight checks and prescription medication. These services will therefore NOT be undertaken by our practice and will need carried out by a private healthcare provider. Long-term bariatric medications such as vitamins can be prescribed by the practice after post-operative monitoring has finished (2 years) and the patient has been discharged by the specialist.

Emergency care following bariatric surgery such as infections and other complications will be provided by the NHS via GP practices or Accident and Emergency.