406:
stated in the penalty charge notice, the NHS may take court action to recover the debt. The penalty charge is increased by 50 percent of the penalty charge if they do not pay within 28 days of the date the penalty charge notice is sent. 979,210 people were fined in 2016–17, double the number, 494,129, in 2015–16. Most had failed to renew their certificate, as there was no effective reminder system. The
388:
An online tool to help patients understand the eligibility criteria for free prescriptions was launched in
September 2018, and prescription exemptions were digitised to allow eligibility for exemption to be checked before they are dispensed. Pharmacies or other dispensers are reimbursed for the cost
435:
Refunds are available for charges made to people who qualify for free prescriptions: "Where any person who is entitled to a repayment of any charge paid under the
Charges Regulations presents an NHS pharmacist with a valid claim for the repayment within three months of the date on which the charge
405:
A person who claims exemption without having a valid exemption certificate is liable for a penalty charge, which is five times what they should have paid, up to a maximum of £100, plus the original charge itself. If they do not prove entitlement to help with health costs, and do not pay the amount
379:
There is concern that exemptions are arbitrary and many chronic illnesses are not included in the list. Some people on low income cannot easily afford their prescriptions and do not collect prescribed medicines when short of money, often leading to avoidable hospitalisation, which may cost the NHS
410:
found in 2019 that 1.7 million incorrect penalties had been overturned since 2014, almost a third of the fines issued, worth £188 million. The committee commented on the "breathtaking complacency" of the fining system. 21,497 penalty notices were withdrawn in 2018/2019 because the patient had
169:
and numerous organisations of disabled people are members, launched a survey investigating the impact of prescription charges on people in
England with long-term conditions in March 2017. It advocates free prescriptions for everyone with long-term conditions. In July 2017 they said a third of
471:
in
Ireland has to pay no more than €100 per calendar month for a month's supply of prescribed medicines and medical appliances. Family means a person or a couple and their children aged under 18 (or under 23 if in full-time education) and any family member who has a physical or intellectual
139:
The existing list of medical exemptions is essentially a list of conditions for which long-term life-saving medication was available in 1968, and it has never been revised since. The policy on prescription charges was dismissed as a "dog's dinner" by the
669:
475:
Those who are entitled to a medical card pay a government levy for each item dispensed. The levy is €2.00 up to a maximum of €20 per family per calendar month. The levy was reduced to €1.50 from April 2019 for medical card holders over the age of 70.
419:
For those who do not qualify for free prescriptions, Prescription
Prepayment Certificates (PPC) are available, covering all prescription charges for a period of three or twelve months, at a cost approximately equivalent to one prescription per month.
273:'Real Time Exemption Checking' system meant eligible patients no longer needed to complete an exemption declaration, as more than 80% of community pharmacies in England can digitally check eligibility.
814:
281:
Patients with any of these conditions who have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx) are entitled to free prescriptions, for all conditions, not merely the qualifying condition:
1038:
898:
451:
If the prescriber has the appropriate prescribing rights, any food, drug, toiletry or cosmetic may be prescribed on an NHS prescription unless it is listed in the
180:
In April 2021 the charge was raised to £9.35 for up to a three-month supply of each item. In 2022, for the first time since 2010, the charge was not increased.
455:– Schedule 1 to the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004, reproduced in Part XVIIIA of the Drug Tariff.
741:
968:
946:
1284:
990:
233:
if their net earnings are £435 or less in the last month, or £935 or less if they get money for a child or who have a limited capability to work,
1130:
1307:
42:
million was raised through these charges, some 0.5% of the total NHS budget. As of August 2024 the prescription charge is £9.90 per item.
719:
1108:
884:
482:
The Long Term
Illness Scheme provides free drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of specified conditions:
55:
407:
31:
797:
1214:
269:
box. Universal Credit was finally included in
January 2020, seven years after its introduction. In July 2022 the roll-out of the
1372:
1325:
836:
691:
174:
1262:
644:
443:
Refunds can be obtained through any NHS England pharmacy on presentation of a valid FP57 form along with proof of exemption.
239:
women who are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
26:
under the age of 60. However, people may be exempt from charges in various exemption categories. Charges were abolished by
920:
113:
patients. In 1956 the rules were changed so that a charge applied to each item prescribed. In 1961 it was doubled to 2
1377:
270:
222:
394:
133:
1382:
1193:"NHS BSA overturns more than 20,000 prescription penalty notices after patients are found to have already paid"
1086:
479:
The Over 70s prescription charge was reduced to €1, and the Drugs
Payment Scheme cap reduced to €114, in 2020.
369:
144:, who said in 2003 that the current rules on who pays for medicines and who does not are unfair and illogical.
749:
440:. This may apply, for example, to people actually exempt who pay for a prescription to avoid a possible fine.
357:
Medical
Exemption Certificates last for five years, and are not applicable to NHS wigs or fabric supports.
166:
1350:
610:
1240:
815:"After the concessions – carry on campaigning for the abolition of prescriptioncharges in all of the UK"
634:
468:
54:
was established in 1948 all prescriptions were free. The power to make a charge was introduced in the
1039:"More than 80% of pharmacies can now digitally check Universal Credit prescription charge exemptions"
424:
390:
183:
Normal practice was to prescribe on a 28-day basis but in 2022 Community
Pharmacy Wales asked GPs in
1170:
452:
265:
218:
141:
87:
486:
437:
360:
Medicines administered at an NHS hospital or an NHS walk-in centre, personally administered by a
106:
51:
438:(Regulation 96 of the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013)
247:
86:, leading Bevan to resign in protest. Charges on medications were introduced in 1952, by the
636:
Pistols at Dawn: Two Hundred Years of Political Rivalry from Pitt and Fox to Blair and Brown
376:
are always free. War pensioners do not pay if the prescription is for their war disability.
1192:
1016:
361:
332:
210:
188:
66:
managed to block their implementation by threatening to resign. In 1951 Cripps's successor
177:
launched a campaign in May 2017 to scrap mental health prescription charges for students.
8:
1148:
862:
353:, including the effects of cancer, or the effects of current or previous cancer treatment
350:
102:
1149:"Prescription fines doubled in last year: RPS says 'more constructive approach' needed"
696:
580:
542:
532:
497:
323:
318:
306:
650:
640:
575:
502:
341:
297:
91:
1356:
151:
found that 800,000 people failed to collect a prescription during 2007 due to cost.
899:"Student mental health costs should be free, according to the Royal College of GPs"
259:
230:
125:, but with a wider range of exemptions. As of May 2024, the prescription charge in
110:
71:
527:
517:
491:
327:
302:
251:
243:
59:
1109:"National Campaign To Generate Awareness Of Free Prescription Criteria Launched"
771:
557:
512:
365:
336:
258:
The prescription exemption forms were not initially updated to include the new
226:
214:
162:
in 2009, and promised free prescriptions for people with long-term conditions.
121:
on 1 February 1965, but reintroduced on 10 June 1968 at the higher rate of 2s 6
67:
1131:"National expansion of Real Time Exemption Checking service for prescriptions"
1366:
1060:
654:
547:
118:
63:
1017:"Revised prescription forms with Universal Credit tick box to be introduced"
187:
to extend repeat prescription intervals from 28 days to 56 days, to free up
165:
The Prescription Charges Coalition, a campaigning organisation of which the
552:
537:
373:
155:
35:
863:"Prescription Charges Coalition launches survey into long-term conditions"
170:
patients of working age had not collected a prescription because of cost.
563:
507:
23:
154:
In 2008, 88% of patients in England got medicines free. Prime Minister
148:
83:
969:"Repeat prescribing intervals in Wales to increase from 28 to 56 days"
947:"Prescription charge frozen for the first time in more than a decade"
312:
27:
522:
472:
disability or an illness and is unable to fully maintain themself.
346:
any continuing physical disability which stops them going out alone
285:
114:
95:
75:
837:"Protestors call on Gordon Brown to abolish prescription charges"
292:
126:
79:
22:
for medicines and some medical appliances are payable by adults
159:
16:
Charges for medical prescriptions on the UK NHS, and in Ireland
1308:"Health budget rises to a record €17.4 billion in Budget 2020"
184:
122:
1241:"The NHS in England: About health costs: Prescription costs"
991:"Help with health costs for people getting Universal Credit"
692:"B.M.A. worried by charges. Concern at Medical Consequences"
132:
Prescription charges and exemptions are administered by the
368:
or supplied at a hospital or clinic for the treatment of a
885:"Working people struggle to afford multiple prescriptions"
436:
was paid, the NHS pharmacist must make the repayment."
1061:"Should the long-term ill have free prescriptions?"
315:which occurs in hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism
1364:
817:. Abolish Prescription Charges. 16 November 2008
58:under pressure from Chancellor of the Exchequer
1285:"Prescription charges for medical card holders"
254:gives some help but not exemption from charges.
101:There were exemptions for people in receipt of
600:Department of Health Resource Accounts 2010/11
1215:"Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs)"
748:. UK Government. 5 April 2024. Archived from
722:. Socialist Health Association. 4 March 2012
1265:. Citizens's Information. 26 November 2018
1195:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 9 September 2019
971:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 16 February 2022
742:"NHS prescription charges from 1 May 2024"
670:"Bevan's Resignation speech 23 April 1951"
32:Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland
1287:. Citizens's Information. 29 January 2019
1019:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 23 January 2020
1219:NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA)
772:"Prescriptions policy is 'dog's dinner'"
632:
427:cost less than the prescription charge.
380:more than providing free prescriptions.
262:, and patients were advised to tick the
206:people 16–18 and in full-time education,
949:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 28 March 2022
865:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 20 March 2017
199:Prescriptions in England are free for:
1365:
1328:. Citizens's Information. 28 July 2015
1305:
1041:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 12 July 2022
887:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 5 July 2017.
583:– for the situation in other countries
175:Royal College of General Practitioners
109:, children under 16 or at school, and
1151:. Pharmaceutical Journal. 7 July 2017
667:
639:. London: Vintage. pp. 202–213.
276:
38:in 2011. In 2010/11, in England, £450
1171:"NHS fines 'complacency' shocks MPs"
246:) entitling them to help under the
13:
1359:at NHS Business Services Authority
14:
1394:
1344:
1137:(Press release). 5 February 2020.
1111:. Pharmacy Biz. 10 September 2018
1089:. NHS Business Services Authority
626:
383:
225:or the guaranteed credit part of
1173:. Practice Business. 4 July 2019
668:Bevan, Aneurin (21 April 1951).
271:Department for Work and Pensions
223:Employment and Support Allowance
117:. Charges were abolished by the
1318:
1306:Cullen, Paul (8 October 2019).
1299:
1277:
1255:
1233:
1207:
1185:
1163:
1141:
1123:
1101:
1079:
1053:
1031:
1009:
983:
961:
939:
913:
891:
877:
855:
829:
807:
562:Conditions arising from use of
395:NHS Business Services Authority
242:people who have a certificate (
147:In 2007, a survey conducted by
134:NHS Business Services Authority
1373:Pharmacy in the United Kingdom
790:
764:
734:
712:
684:
672:. Socialist Health Association
661:
603:
594:
370:sexually transmitted infection
74:did introduce NHS charges for
1:
997:. www.nhs.uk. 31 January 2017
700:. 26 October 1956. p. 10
587:
194:
446:
414:
400:
167:Royal Pharmaceutical Society
158:introduced an exemption for
7:
569:
10:
1399:
1326:"Long Term Illness Scheme"
921:"NHS prescription charges"
901:. BBC Newsbeat. 4 May 2017
494:(for people under 16 only)
458:
430:
425:over-the-counter medicines
288:needing continuous therapy
82:in order to help fund the
45:
408:Public Accounts Committee
391:NHS Prescription Services
389:of the medicines through
309:, an autoimmune disorder)
62:, but Minister of Health
20:Charges for prescriptions
1351:NHS prescription charges
612:NHS prescription charges
142:Social Market Foundation
1378:National Health Service
1087:"Check before you tick"
633:Campbell, John (2010).
615:, NHS, 23 November 2023
487:Intellectual disability
107:War Disablement Pension
88:Conservative government
52:National Health Service
1357:Help with Health Costs
1263:"Drugs Payment Scheme"
720:"Prescription Charges"
467:ensures that a family
70:and Foreign Secretary
56:NHS Amendment Act 1949
1383:Healthcare in Ireland
305:(also referred to as
266:Jobseeker's Allowance
248:NHS Low Income Scheme
219:Jobseeker's Allowance
211:means-tested benefits
189:community pharmacists
543:Muscular dystrophies
465:Drugs Payment Scheme
393:, a division of the
351:treatment for cancer
209:people who get some
469:ordinarily resident
335:and other forms of
103:National Assistance
94:, at a rate of one
697:The Glasgow Herald
581:Prescription costs
533:Multiple sclerosis
498:Diabetes insipidus
324:diabetes insipidus
319:hypoparathyroidism
277:Medical exemptions
203:children under 16,
98:per prescription.
843:. 1 February 2010
646:978-1-84595-091-0
576:Prescription drug
503:Diabetes mellitus
342:myasthenia gravis
333:Addison's disease
298:diabetes mellitus
221:, income-related
119:Wilson Government
92:Winston Churchill
1390:
1338:
1337:
1335:
1333:
1322:
1316:
1315:
1303:
1297:
1296:
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987:
981:
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978:
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943:
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932:
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911:
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895:
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881:
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859:
853:
852:
850:
848:
833:
827:
826:
824:
822:
811:
805:
804:
802:
798:"Search Results"
794:
788:
787:
785:
783:
768:
762:
761:
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757:
738:
732:
731:
729:
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681:
679:
677:
665:
659:
658:
630:
624:
623:
622:
620:
607:
601:
598:
260:Universal Credit
231:Universal Credit
111:venereal disease
72:Herbert Morrison
41:
1398:
1397:
1393:
1392:
1391:
1389:
1388:
1387:
1363:
1362:
1347:
1342:
1341:
1331:
1329:
1324:
1323:
1319:
1312:The Irish Times
1304:
1300:
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1256:
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1234:
1224:
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1213:
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1190:
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1169:
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1147:
1146:
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1129:
1128:
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1114:
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1092:
1090:
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1084:
1080:
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1068:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1044:
1042:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1022:
1020:
1015:
1014:
1010:
1000:
998:
989:
988:
984:
974:
972:
967:
966:
962:
952:
950:
945:
944:
940:
930:
928:
927:. 31 March 2021
919:
918:
914:
904:
902:
897:
896:
892:
883:
882:
878:
868:
866:
861:
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813:
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795:
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769:
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755:
753:
752:on 5 April 2024
740:
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647:
631:
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609:
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599:
595:
590:
572:
558:Acute leukaemia
528:Cystic fibrosis
518:Phenylketonuria
461:
449:
433:
417:
411:actually paid.
403:
386:
328:hypopituitarism
307:Graves' Disease
303:hyperthyroidism
279:
252:HC3 certificate
236:people over 60,
217:, income-based
197:
160:cancer patients
60:Stafford Cripps
48:
39:
34:in 2010 and by
17:
12:
11:
5:
1396:
1386:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1361:
1360:
1354:
1353:at NHS Choices
1346:
1345:External links
1343:
1340:
1339:
1317:
1298:
1276:
1254:
1232:
1206:
1184:
1162:
1140:
1122:
1100:
1078:
1067:. 29 June 2017
1052:
1030:
1008:
982:
960:
938:
912:
890:
876:
854:
828:
806:
789:
778:. 15 June 2003
763:
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525:
520:
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513:Cerebral palsy
510:
505:
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492:Mental illness
489:
460:
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448:
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416:
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402:
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385:
384:Administration
382:
366:contraceptives
355:
354:
347:
344:
339:
337:hypoadrenalism
330:
321:
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227:Pension Credit
215:Income Support
207:
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196:
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68:Hugh Gaitskell
47:
44:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1286:
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1264:
1258:
1243:. NHS Choices
1242:
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606:
597:
593:
582:
579:
577:
574:
573:
565:
561:
559:
556:
554:
551:
549:
548:Hydrocephalus
546:
544:
541:
539:
536:
534:
531:
529:
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264:Income based
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64:Aneurin Bevan
61:
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1330:. Retrieved
1320:
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1289:. Retrieved
1279:
1267:. Retrieved
1257:
1245:. Retrieved
1235:
1223:. Retrieved
1218:
1209:
1197:. Retrieved
1187:
1175:. Retrieved
1165:
1153:. Retrieved
1143:
1134:
1125:
1113:. Retrieved
1103:
1091:. Retrieved
1081:
1069:. Retrieved
1064:
1055:
1043:. Retrieved
1033:
1021:. Retrieved
1011:
999:. Retrieved
994:
985:
973:. Retrieved
963:
951:. Retrieved
941:
929:. Retrieved
924:
915:
903:. Retrieved
893:
879:
867:. Retrieved
857:
845:. Retrieved
840:
831:
819:. Retrieved
809:
792:
780:. Retrieved
775:
766:
754:. Retrieved
750:the original
745:
736:
724:. Retrieved
714:
702:. Retrieved
695:
686:
674:. Retrieved
663:
635:
628:
617:, retrieved
611:
605:
596:
553:Parkinsonism
538:Spina bifida
481:
478:
474:
464:
462:
450:
442:
434:
422:
418:
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378:
374:tuberculosis
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291:a permanent
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156:Gordon Brown
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36:NHS Scotland
19:
18:
1247:28 February
1135:NHS Digital
847:27 December
821:27 December
782:27 December
726:27 December
704:23 November
676:27 December
564:Thalidomide
508:Haemophilia
349:undergoing
1367:Categories
1199:3 November
1115:11 October
1093:11 October
588:References
195:Exemptions
149:Ipsos Mori
129:is £9.90.
84:Korean War
80:spectacles
24:in England
1225:4 January
1177:23 August
1155:23 August
1071:23 August
1045:26 August
756:25 August
655:489636152
619:15 August
453:blacklist
447:Blacklist
415:Discounts
401:Penalties
313:myxoedema
50:When the
30:in 2007,
28:NHS Wales
1332:24 March
1291:24 March
1269:24 March
1065:BBC News
1023:22 March
1001:29 April
975:21 April
869:29 March
776:BBC News
570:See also
523:Epilepsy
286:epilepsy
213:such as
191:' time.
96:shilling
76:dentures
841:PR Week
459:Ireland
431:Refunds
293:fistula
127:England
46:History
953:23 May
925:nhs.uk
746:gov.uk
653:
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250:. An
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1221:. n.d
931:3 May
905:6 May
801:(PDF)
423:Some
185:Wales
1334:2019
1293:2019
1271:2019
1249:2016
1227:2022
1201:2019
1179:2019
1157:2017
1117:2018
1095:2018
1073:2017
1047:2022
1025:2020
1003:2019
977:2022
955:2022
933:2021
907:2017
871:2017
849:2013
823:2013
784:2013
758:2024
728:2013
706:2016
678:2013
651:OCLC
641:ISBN
621:2024
463:The
229:and
173:The
78:and
995:NHS
372:or
326:or
244:HC2
105:or
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