Our reference: F19/10225/SW
11 July 2019
Dear Mr LLwel yn
Your information access request
Thank you for your email of 14 June 2019. You have asked as follows:
“When a doctor works as an independent contractor to the NHS in general practice
medicine they are paid by the NHS to look after NHS patients. When the DVLA
request medical information and pay the doctor for this service creating a potential
legal conflict of interests, what is the GMC guidance on doctors taking sundry
payments from the DVLA?”
We’ve considered your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We don’t provide specific advice on the fees that a doctor may charge for a
particular service, as this is outside of our remit and expertise.
The General Medical Services contract between general practices and NHS England
defines what services are offered to NHS patients. Where services fal outside of
the contract, GPs can charge additional fees.
We do make it clear in
Good Medical Practice (2013) that doctors must be honest
in their financial dealings. Further advice can be found in our guidance
Financial
and commercial arrangements and conflicts of interest (2013).
The
BMA and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) have agreed these
fees for work relating to the medical aspect of driver licensing.
We hope you find this information useful.
Yours sincerely
General Medical Council
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