The NHS Counter Fraud Authority supports the 'Check before you tick' campaign which NHS England and the NHS Business Services Authority have launched today. The campaign reinforces important messages to NHS patients about the importance of making truthful and accurate statements about entitlement to free prescriptions. It also provides a reminder of the potential consequences of declaring misleading or inaccurate information about their circumstances.
Patients and their carers must check their entitlement to free prescriptions before they tick any exemption box and sign the declaration on their prescriptions form. By doing so, they can avoid receiving a penalty charge notice (currently up to £100) for making an error or mistake, or potentially more serious action if found to be making deliberate, fraudulent declarations.
The NHS hopes to prevent the loss of millions of pounds per year through this new public information campaign.