Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the requirement to obtain a medical exemption certificate before being eligible to claim free prescriptions on people with chronic illnesses.

The Department has made no assessment.

The exemption certificate provides the patient with evidence to demonstrate to dispensers that they are entitled to have the National Health Service cover the cost of their prescriptions. The exemption certificate requirement also allows for the verification of claims for exemption, and for fraud to be identified and pursued.

It is straightforward to apply for a medical exemption certificate; the patient should ask their doctor for form FP92A. The form includes guidance on how to complete it and who can authorise it. A healthcare professional (HCP), e.g. a hospital doctor or general practitioner (GP), or at the GP’s discretion a member of the GP’s practice who can access medical records, must authorise the application to confirm the patient has the qualifying condition. If a patient is unable to complete the form themselves then a relative or HCP can complete it on their behalf and insert their name in the signature box.