The BMA sets and agrees a schedule of fees with various Government departments and agencies for routine work (e.g. certificates, reports and examinations) that doctors are asked to undertake.

Where there is no agreement in place, doctors may set and agree their own fees in advance to undertaking the work.

General rules when charging a fee

• Estimate how long it will take

• Give a clear indication of the anticipated length of time the work will take.

• Agree it in writing

• As with all non-NHS work, it is vital that professional fees are agreed in writing before agreeing to undertake any work. Doctors who fail to take this precaution may encounter difficulties in recovering fees and, in such situations, the BMA will not be able to intervene to resolve disputes.

• Complete the task as quickly as possible

• On receipt of an undertaking to pay the doctor's professional fee at the agreed rate, the work should be completed as quickly as possible and processed in the normal way.

• Produce high quality reports

• It is important that if proper professional fees are to be charged, high quality reports should be produced and processed quickly, normally within 10 working days of receipt of the request.