I am writing to confirm that I have now completed my search for the information which you requested on 9 January 2025.

Request

You asked us:

‘This request relates to penalties for non-payment of NHS costs in England and Wales.

1 - Please could you confirm

a. Which external debt collection agencies (if any) are currently contracted to seek recovery of unpaid penalties?

b. After a penalty is issued and is unpaid, how long would it take before it is passed to an external debt collection agent?

c. Once a penalty is passed to an external debt collection agent for recovery, how long would that agent attempt to recover it?

2 - Please could you provide the following data for the calendar years 2022, 2023 and 2024:

a. Number of penalty charges issued?

b. Number of penalty charges cancelled or waived following contact from the patient?

c. Number of penalty charges passed to an external debt collection agency for recovery action?

d. Number of penalty charges which have resulted in County Court proceedings?’

On 13 January 2025 you clarified your request as follows:

The request relates to Prescription Exemption Checking Service (PECS) only.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your clarified request on 13 January 2025.

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

Our response

Wales Penalty Charges

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 Authority. The NHSBSA does not check exemptions for prescriptions prescribed and dispensed in Wales. Prescriptions in Wales are free so no exemption checking takes place. 

Question 1 and 2c

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 Authority because we don’t use an external debt collection agency, we have an internal process that we use to seek recovery of unpaid penalties.

Questions 2a and 2b

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested, and a copy of the information is attached. 

Question 2d

As yet, no patients have faced county court action. The NHSBSA, in collaboration with NHS England, is currently considering its approach with regard to unpaid prescription charges and penalties to agree the most appropriate action to take as a deterrent to claiming free prescriptions when no valid exemption exists.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement:

“NHSBSA Copyright 2025” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.