There are some other non-NHS services that will require payment. e.g. private medicals, insurance forms.
When a Doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true. To complete even the simplest of forms, therefore, the Doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the Doctor with the General Medical Council or even the Police.
GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients. The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients but not non-NHS work. Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms, they are not required to do such non-NHS work. Therefore, please allow sufficient time for the doctor to complete reports as this is outside the scope of their day-to-day work schedule and can therefore take several weeks to complete.