Paying extortionate money for a medical?

[Big News]

I'm currently in the process of getting a job as a taxi driver for a small minicab firm here in Aberystwyth. The only two things I have to do now are pay £120 to the council for my taxi badge (seems fair, as this includes the price of my CRB, too), and to get my medical form signed off. I spoke to one of their drivers who started working with them in November, and said that his surgery charged him £90 for a three minute appointment - basically to check his blood pressure and to ensure that he had two of everything. Now fair enough £90 isn't a lot to many of PH's company directors, but that's a heck of a lot for this here student!

Is there any way around this? I thought the whole point of the NHS was free healthcare...?

Thanks in advance,

Ben

[knk]

That is not healthcare; it is an occupational medical.

[Big News]

Mhm, fair enough, flipping annoying though!

[Wacky Racer]

Two of everything?

[BE57 TOY]

I know a doctor who does these medicals for £40 but it is in Staffordshire.

[rb5er]

My medical for hgv license was £40.

[72EuropaTC]

Being an occupational requirement, I guess it will be tax deductable? If so, keep the receipt, get signed up on the job before April and you can slap it on your tax return.

edit: BTW £90 does seem a bit steep tho.

[ninja-lewis]

As others said, these types of service are not covered by the NHS - you'll be seen as a private patient. GPs are essentially private practices contracted to the NHS - they're entitled to provide private medical services, over and above those provided by the NHS, and charge for them. The British Medical Association recommends fees for most common private services (medicals, passport forms and so on) - well, they do when the Competition Commission isn't looking. Some surgeries are cheaper than others - either because they have lower overheads or insist charging a full hour for the medical examination and paperwork.