Legislation

Supplied medicines

As detailed in the legislation NHS prescription charge rules apply to all individuals receiving a supply of medicines under a PGD or under an exemption to the Human Medicines Regulations (HMR) 2012, such as Schedule 17 or Regulation 223, unless the individual is entitled to free prescriptions or where prescription charges do not apply.

HMR 2012 Schedule 17 exemptions dental hygienists and therapists June 2024 update: The DHSC and NHS England are currently considering how medicines for take-home use should be supplied in NHS dentistry. In the meantime, it is recommended that these supplies are provided via a prescription. As dental hygienists and therapists are not prescribers, this must be issued by a dentist via an FP10D and will attract a standard NHS prescription charge (unless the patient is exempt) when collecting from a pharmacy.  For more information please refer to advice from NHSE Supply and administration of medicines by dental hygienists and dental therapists

Administered medicines

If all of the medicine is administered to an individual during the consultation, no charge is levied.

However, if any part of the medicine is given to the individual to take home, they should be charged, unless there is no fee to be levied (see below) or they are otherwise exempt.

When NHS Prescription charges do not apply

In relation to PGDs NHS Prescription charges do not apply in the following circumstances:

• medicines administered under a Patient Group Direction/HMR 2012 exemption
• where a person is exempt from paying NHS prescription charges. Details of those entitled to prescription charge exemptions is listed at NHS Choices
• medicines supplied under a PGD, or HMR 2012 exemption, at an NHS trust or foundation trust, or by or service arranged by an NHS organisation or a local authority for:
  • the treatment of a sexually transmissible infection (STI)
  • the treatment of tuberculosis
  • the supply of contraceptives
  • medication to treat a mental disorder supplied to a person subject to a supervised community treatment order

Collection of prescription charges

Services supplying medicines under a PGD/HMR 2012 exemptions are responsible for the collection of the appropriate fees.

For convenience some NHS organisations have introduced systems that avoid healthcare professionals collecting the charges themselves including arranging for finance departments to invoice individuals following treatment.

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