Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

‘How many fines for have been issued to patients claiming free prescriptions while not eligible during the following time periods:

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

2025-currently

For each time period, please can you include the number of fines issued and the total value of the fines?’

[On 4 August 2025 you clarified your request as follows]

‘Please can I have data for all PCNs which have been issued, as well as data for those PCNs which did not result in the fine being cancelled’

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 30 July 2025, with clarification received on 4 August 2025.

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

Our response

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

Please note, the PCN Not Cancelled column shows the number of PCNs issued with no exemption confirmed, no easement applied, and cases not cancelled.

We paused issuing PCNs during the Covid-19 pandemic and restarted issuing them in 2021. Therefore, the figures are lower during these years.

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”. 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.