Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average charge levied by healthcare professionals for written reports requested by patients who require them for (a) setting up power of attorney and (b) other purposes is in each commissioning area.

The information is not held centrally on charges by health professionals, other than general practitioners (GPs).

As regards GPs, they are required under terms of contracts for the provision of National Health Services primary medical services to provide certain medical reports free of charge to their registered patients.

GPs may also provide other services outside of their contract. Regulations prevent a GP for charging a registered patient a fee for treatment under the contract or otherwise, except in certain prescribed circumstances. However, the provision of reports is not classed as treatment. Consequently, GPs are able to charge for those reports which are not deemed free.

The Professional Fees Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) suggests fees for such services to help doctors set their own professional fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. Where doctors intend to charge for services to patients, the BMA advises them to forewarn patients, at the earliest opportunity, of the likely level of fees.