FOI-03883

##Request *1. How many Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued to patients who incorrectly claimed free prescriptions, per month from May 2025 to May 2026?* *2. What number of these were identified through the Real Time Exception Checking Service (RTEC), (per month from May 2025 to May 2026)?* The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 4 June 2026. We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). ##Our response ##Question 1: How many Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued to patients who incorrectly claimed free prescriptions, per month from May 2025 to May 2026? I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information is attached. ##Question 2: What number of these were identified through the Real Time Exception Checking Service (RTEC), (per month from May 2025 to May 2026)? 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 NHSBSA. The requested information is not held in a format that would enable a reliable response to be provided. Any information produced from such a comparison would therefore be incomplete. ###Data Queries Please contact [email protected] 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 . 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 2026”. 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.