Charging patients who fail to attend non-NHS medicals
GPs and practice staff often find it frustrating when a non-NHS medical (or other chargeable non-NHS work) has been booked, such as for a taxi licence, and the patient fails to attend. However, this does not mean that the practice can automatically charge the patient for non-attendance.
The arrangement for the medical is purely a private one between the patient and the doctor, so unless it has been explicitly specified at the time of booking that failure to attend will result in a charge being levied, it will be difficult to enforce a payment request. Sometimes even when patients have been advised it can be difficult obtaining the payment.
The simplest thing to do to avoid this problem is have a clear policy that all chargeable non-NHS work has to be paid for prior to it being undertaken and is non-refundable unless a minimum of 48 hours cancellation is given.
Last updated : 22 Aug 2018Thank you to those who responded to our data-validation exercise (21 May 2018)
A big thank you to all the practices who responded to the data validation exercise, which ran between January-March 2018. We asked practices to confirm the details of the GPs...Tips of the month May 2018 (21 May 2018)
We provide weekly tips based on common queries which come through to us from London GPs and practice teams. These are shared via social media and collated for...Seven London hospital trusts cease to accept paper referrals in June or July (21 May 2018)
From the 1 October eRS will be the only route for GP to Consultant-led first outpatient appointments, as part of the Standard Contract 2018/2019. However, Trusts have staggered paper switch-off...Free leadership coaching available for practice teams in London (18 May 2018)
The London Leadership Academy, a pan-London leadership development organisation, working across all NHS organisations offers a free coaching service for GPs and practice team members working in the NHS. Recent...Londonwide LMCs’ Buying Group new shredding service – sign up now (18 May 2018)
Almost a fifth of our practices have signed up to the new Londonwide LMCs’ Buying Group which means they can take advantage of offers such as a new shredding service...NHS Digital to increase threshold for data sharing with the Home Office (18 May 2018)
NHS Digital will now only share patient information with the Home Office in cases where an individual is being considered for deportation due to “serious criminality”. Previously NHS Digital had...Acting as a supervisor for a doctor with conditions (18 May 2018)
This month our GP support team pose a challenge: Ask not what your LMC can do for you – ask what you can do for your professional colleagues. Background GPs are...Londonwide LMCs conference 2018 round-up (18 May 2018)
On 2 May 2018 we hosted our annual conference – titled “London Calling” - at the Kia Oval. The day was a great success with an array of guest speakers...Londonwide LMCs' Buying Group - MIAB (16 May 2018)
Caring for those that care the most - expert insurance from MIAB It would be easy to think of MIAB as 'just' another insurance broker. As one of many in...May 2018 local election results and Lewisham East by-election (15 May 2018)
The local elections held at the start of May 2018 have brought about the following changes in local authority control for boroughs covered by Londonwide LMCs: The Conservatives gained...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.
follow us on...
