Request

• ‘I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the implementation date of the prescription certificates legislation.

• Additionally, under the same Act, I would like to understand why I was not informed about my ineligibility for free prescriptions.

• Furthermore, I am also concerned about the information on my surgery's website, https://www.unity-health.co.uk/prescriptions, which is misleading. It does not specify which benefits qualify for free prescriptions and includes incorrect information, as it fails to identify the benefits that are eligible for free prescriptions.

You subsequently clarified your request as follows:

• I would like to know what steps the NHS took to inform patients about the removal of the Job Seekers prescription tick box. This change could lead to patients mistakenly thinking they are still entitled to free prescriptions, however now they require a certificate from their GP instead.

• When was this change to the prescription exemption implemented, i.e., on what date was the tick box for Job Seekers Allowance removed?

• Additionally, I am concerned about misleading information on my surgery's website, Unity Health Prescriptions. The site does not clearly state which benefits qualify for free prescriptions and contains inaccurate information by not identifying the benefits that are eligible. This issue is prevalent on many other surgery websites as well. Why have these websites not been updated, and when will they be corrected? Until they are, many patients, including myself, could potentially receive fines unless they obtain a free prescription certificate from their GP.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your clarified request on 8 July 2024.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Our response

1. Jobseeker’s Allowance (specifically Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance) is still available to tick on a prescription form.
2. Jobseeker’s Allowance (specifically Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance) is still available to tick on a prescription form.
3. I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services Authority. The linked web page is not managed by NHSBSA. Rather, it is managed by Unity Health, who are responsible for its’ content.