People who claim free NHS prescriptions without being eligible face fines of £100. A statement from the NHS Business Services Authority states: “If you claim free NHS prescriptions or NHS dental treatment when you are not entitled, you could face to a fine of £100. Even if it is by mistake.”
NHSBSA said: “Every year the NHS loses significant funding as people claim free prescriptions or dental treatment they were not entitled to. This directly reduces the money available for basic patient care. We carry out checks on patient complaints.
“If we cannot confirm during our checks that a patient was entitled to claim free NHS prescriptions or NHS dental treatment, they will be sent an inquiry letter asking them to confirm their entitlement. If they do not respond within 28 days, they will be will send you a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).”
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He added: “Find out if you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and help with other NHS costs using our eligibility checker. Verification usually takes 3 minutes.” Although most NHS treatments are free, NHS prescriptions often incur a charge.
There is also usually a charge for NHS dental checks and treatments, vision tests and new glasses or contact lenses. There is also usually a charge for repairing or replacing glasses or contact lenses, NHS wigs and NHS fabric supports such as surgical bras, support stockings and spinal supports.
There is also usually a travel charge for NHS treatment. You may be eligible for help with these costs depending on your circumstances, says the NHS, with a handy eligibility checker on its website that takes around three minutes to complete.
Last month, the price of prescriptions increased, dealing a blow to NHS patients across the country, with patients in Scotland and Wales exempt.
