Thank you for your request for information about the following:

I would like to know under the FOI Act how many people turning 60 are receiving penalty charges after the NHSBSA has cancelled their certificate and direct debit.

Your request was received on 21st November 2023 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

We do not hold the information requested.

When a prescription is received which has been signed as the patient being exempt from prescription charges, a data matching exercise is instigated. If no valid exemption is found through this search / exercise for that patient, an enquiry letter is issued to the patient which invites them to contact us to confirm the exemption they have in place.