Request

The number of PCNs issued to members of the public by the NHS or their processors, and the total costs invoiced, where that person has previously or subsequently been able to successfully apply for a medical exemption on grounds they have a qualifying medical condition

On 8 September 2023 you clarified the following:

• Please could you provide date range for this request. For example, each month from January 2023 – present.

Regarding date range, please provide records from January 2021 onwards to present, summarised by month.

• Please confirm which service this is in relation to such as Prescription Exemption Checking Services (PECS) or Dental Exemption Checking Services (DECS).

Regarding services, please provide for the Prescription Exemption Checking Services (PECS).

Response

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services.

PCN enquiry letters are only issued when a valid exemption has not been found, therefore there are no PCNs issued to those with a valid exemption. With regards to the number of people who have received a PCN and then subsequently applied for medical exemption - this information is not held by NHSBSA as there is no way to determine this from the data we hold.

Please note that this response will be published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-[reference-01407