People who have NHS prescription medication face £100 fine over 'mistake'

People who claim free NHS prescriptions without being eligible face an eye-watering £100 fines. A statement from the NHS Business Services Authority states: “If you claim free NHS prescriptions or NHS dental treatment when you're not entitled, you could face a £100 penalty charge. Even if it's by mistake.”

NHSBSA said: “Each year, the NHS loses significant funds due to people claiming free prescriptions or dental treatment they weren’t entitled to. This directly reduces the money available for core patient care. We carry out checks on patient claims.

"If we cannot confirm during our checks that a patient was entitled to claim free NHS prescriptions or NHS dental treatment, they'll be sent an enquiry letter asking them to confirm their entitlement. If they do not respond within 28 days, they'll be sent a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).”

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It added: “Find out if you're entitled to free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and help with other NHS costs using our eligibility checker. It usually takes 3 minutes to check.” Although most NHS treatment is free, there is usually a charge for NHS prescriptions.

There is also usually a charge for NHS dental check-ups and treatment, sight tests and new glasses or contact lenses. There is also typically a charge for repairing or replacing glasses or contact lenses, NHS wigs and NHS fabric supports – things like surgical bras, support tights and spinal supports.

There is also typically a charge for travel for NHS treatment. You could be entitled to help with these costs depending on your circumstances, the NHS says, with a handy elgibility checker on its website, which takes around three minutes to complete.

Just last month, the price of prescriptions was hiked in a blow for NHS patients up and down the country - with patients in Scotland and Wales exempt.