Fees guidance
The BMA (through its professional fees and forensic medicine committees) negotiates a range of fees to cover part-time medical service work, local and central government work, medico-legal work, insurance work and a wide range of reports, examinations and certificates for patients or third parties.
Fees for part-time medical services
Advice to members who undertake professional work not covered by their main NHS contract.1 - Central government departments and agencies
Fees for central government departments and agencies that accept the BMA 'Treasury' rate - fees for central government departments and agencies that do not accept the BMA 'Treasury' rate - central government departments and agencies whose fees are accepted by the BMA2 - Work for local authorities
Work under the 'collaborative arrangements' - doctors assisting local authorities - other services3 - Miscellaneous work in the NHS
Within the remit of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body - NHS complaints and disciplinary procedures - regulatory bodies - medical examination of prospective NHS employees4 - Family planning
Local authority family planning clinics - hospital doctors: family planning fees5 - Reports for insurance companies
Fees agreed with the Association of British Insurers for reports and medical examinations undertaken for life assurance and income protection purposes - fees unagreed with the Association of British Insurers6 - Miscellaneous agreed fees
Fees agreed between the BMA and various representative bodies and organisations - charitable societies - mental capacity - cremation - medical officers at schools - pharmaceutical companies - childminders7 - Road accidents: emergency treatment
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, the first doctor providing emergency treatment to the victim of a road traffic accident is generally entitled to charge a fee.8 - Police work
Fees agreed nationally - sessional forensic physicians - retained forensic physicians - specialist forensic physicians9 - Coroners' work
Fees for coroners' work - post mortem examinations and attendance at inquests - analytical work - reports10 - Medico-legal fees
Fees paid by the Crown Prosecution Service - fees paid out of central funds - fees for legally aided cases - miscellaneous fees - BMA suggested fees11 - Where no agreement applies
Suggested fees for services which can only be provided by the patient's own general practitioner or other attending doctor - work that can be undertaken by any doctor, where no suggested fees are madeGuidance for negotiating fees for locum services in general practice
Guidance produced in January 2007 to support all parties involved in negotiating for GP locum services. Agreements are made between two parties and could involve locum GPs, GP practices, primary care organisations (PCOs) and any other alternative providers
Fees FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions on professional fees.Read more here
Important notes
- 1. Implementation of VAT on medical services
2. Fees charged for insurance reports and examinations - a flowchart explaining where insurance rates can be found in the BMA fees guidance schedules and when doctors should charge at their own rate
3. Collaborative arrangements - Guidance for medical practitioners undertaking work under the collaborative arrangements (including family planning and sessional work)
4. New mental health legislation in Scotland – fee rates. Agreement on fees and expenses under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 has now been reached and details are enclosed in a circular that includes a claim form for carrying out a second medical examination. Download the circular as a PDF from the Scottish Executive website
5. Medical reports - list of steps to produce a non-NHS report.
6. Guidance for negotiating fees for locum services in general practice.
7. Insurance reports - Guidance for medical practitioners undertaking insurance reports (supplementary information to FGS5 & 11). Download the guidance in PDF format.
8. Guidance for medical services doctors undertaking sessional work. Download the guidance in PDF format.