GPs entitled to charge fees for safeguarding reports, says BMA

GPs are entitled to ask for a fee for providing safeguarding services, as these fall outside their core contract, the BMA has said.

The union’s professional fees committee said that, after taking legal advice, it is encouraging GPs to agree a fee ahead of providing safeguarding reports or attending safeguarding conferences.

 It said that under GMC guidance GPs have a ‘professional duty’ to assist with child protection procedures, but that they should request fees for carrying out this work.

GPs should notify local authorities requesting the services that ‘reasonable fees’ will be charged, specifying the fee and referencing the Supply of Goods and Services Act.

In an update to GPs, the committee’s chair Dr Rob Barnett said: ‘Our view is that GPs are entitled to ask for a fee for safeguarding services as this work falls outside the scope of their GMS, PMS and APMS contract of employment.

‘It is important to note that GPs have a professional duty to assist with child protection procedures and provide relevant information to child protection meetings, if they are not able to attend them.

‘This duty is clearly set out, under the heading “Working in Partnership” on page 19 of the GMC’s own guidance: “Protecting children and young people – the responsibilities of all doctors”.

‘GPs would place themselves at risk of disciplinary action by the GMC if they fail to adhere to this guidance.

‘Our advice is therefore to provide the relevant safeguarding services, but on the basis that a fee will be sought, indicating the rate of charge ahead of providing the service.

‘I would therefore encourage you to agree a fee in advance of attending conferences or providing reports.’

It comes after the BMA’s GP committed proposed replacing the current patchwork of local enhanced services with a ‘comprehensive, nationally agreed and fully funded’ DES, including coverage for medical reports requested by probation services and fostering agencies, as part of the 2026/27 GP contract consultation.

It said that some local authorities and ICBs have argued that fees to GPs for contributing to the safeguarding process should not be paid, as they said newer regulations and guidance states that safeguarding is ‘implicit in the role of GPs’.

According to the GPC, a new safeguarding DES would have the effect of:

• establishing consistency over safeguarding matters in every practice
• reduce regional variation
• improve system-wide efficiency
• improve outcomes for vulnerable patients

During the consultation, NHS England acknowledged that the issues raised by GPCE ‘reflect wider concerns about fragmentation’, funding responsibility and workload associated with safeguarding‑related activity, but said that the proposal could not be taken forward in the 2026/27 contract.

However, NHSE said that this would be considered as part of GMS reform.

The GPC had already taken legal advice in 2016 stating that GPs can charge local authorities for the cost of the workload involved with providing safeguarding reports.