Palatine Group Practice

 

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Private Consultations and Treatments

 

We do not offer private consultations or treatment for patients who are eligible for NHS treatment.  We only offer ‘immediate and necessary’ private consultations (see Health Care for Temporary Residents/Visitors to the Island by clicking here) for people who are not eligible for NHS care.    

Private Services Available from the Practice

 

Why do I have to pay for some services?
The Government's contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to ensure that information provided to them is true and accurate.  It is important to understand that GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self-employed and they have to cover their costs - staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc - in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work, the fees charged by GPs contribute towards their costs.  This is also why you will be asked to make an appointment outside of the Doctor’s NHS surgery time (e.g. at the end of the surgery). 

For information on Fees for Private Services, please click here.

 

Does my GP have to do non-NHS work? With certain limited exceptions, for example a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients. Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms, for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work. Why does it take so long? Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients. Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.  Priority is always given to medical care of patients. But it’s just one signature!? 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. In order 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 (the doctors' regulatory body) or even the Police.

 

PASSPORT APPLICATION / AUTHORISATIONS

If you want the Doctor to countersign your passport application, please note that we handle those documents differently from the other private forms.  We can’t give you your Passport application back after the doctor has signed it, because it will then contain personal details about the doctor.  We will post the documents off direct to the passport office.  When you hand it in to us, it must include:

a. The completed application form

b. The doctor’s fee for signing the form.  This is currently £15 per form

c. Any supporting documents required, e.g. marriage certificate, expired passport

d. Photographs as required

e. A separate cheque for the passport office fee, which must be made payable to IOM Government.

an envelope of appropriate size, addressed to the Passport office and stamped with sufficient postage, ready for use when the form has been countersigned.

We will not accept the application without a) b) and e) but we DO NOT check the application before we send it, once it is signed.

PRIVATE PRESCRIPTIONS

If a medication is not available to you on the NHS, but the Doctor is willing to prescribe it based on his/her clinical assessment of you, they will issue you a private prescription.  In many cases, there will be a charge levied by the surgery for issuing a private prescription, as it is not covered by the NHS contract (see why do I have to pay for some services above).  Please note that you will also have to pay the full price of the medication at the Pharmacy.  This is not the same as the NHS prescription charge, it is the full cost of that medication.

 

TRAVEL VACCINATIONS

From 1st December 2010, the Government no longer funds the provision of travel vaccinations under the NHS.  The advice on what you should have is free, but we will charge you for the private script/vaccine and for administering the injection.  Any medicines that you wish to have solely because of going on holiday are also available only as a private prescription.   This includes malaria tablets, medication to delay your monthly period, and antibiotics that you carry with you ‘just in case you get sick’ – for example if you were travelling to a country where stomach bugs are frequent.  Please note that, in addition to our fees, you will also have to pay the full cost of the vaccine/medication at the Pharmacy.

 

COLLECTING PRESCRIPTION VACCINES FROM YOUR PHARMACY

Make sure you find out from the chemist how the medication should be kept until it is administered.  Usually it has to be refrigerated at a certain temperature and your home fridge might not be adequate.  It is often a very short timescale to get it from one fridge to the other as well, for example some vaccines are no good if they are out of the fridge for longer than 15 minutes.  We are happy to store your vaccine for you until your appointment if you want us to; please make sure it is in a bag with your name clearly marked on it.