New figures show the NHS issued 212,143 penalty charge notices for dental treatment last year, a rise of more than 40% compared with two years earlier, according to data from the NHS Business Services Authority.
When people receive dental treatment or NHS prescriptions, they are always asked whether they get it for free. The NHS carries out checks on patient claims, and if it cannot confirm that a patient was entitled to free treatment, they are sent an enquiry letter. If they do not respond within 28 days, they receive a penalty charge notice.
Why the fines have surged
The rise in penalty notices highlights confusion around who qualifies for free treatment. Almost half of the UK population qualifies for free NHS dental treatment, but that still leaves millions having to pay for care and prescriptions.
The NHS says: “In England, patients pay for their NHS prescriptions and NHS dental treatment. This is an important source of funding for the NHS.
“Each year, the NHS loses significant funds due to people claiming free prescriptions or dental treatment they weren’t entitled to. This directly reduces the money available for core patient care.
“We carry out checks on patient claims. If we cannot confirm during our checks that a patient was entitled to claim free NHS prescriptions or NHS dental treatment, they’ll be sent an enquiry letter asking them to confirm their entitlement. If they do not respond within 28 days, they’ll be sent a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).”
How penalty charges are calculated
If you’re sent a PCN, you’ll be asked to pay both the original NHS prescription or dental treatment charges and an additional penalty charge. The penalty charge is five times the original amount owed, up to a maximum of £100. Once a Penalty Charge Notice has been issued, if no payment has been made within 28 days, a surcharge may be added.
Who qualifies for free NHS dental treatment
You’re eligible for free dental appointments and treatment if you’re aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education; you’re pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months; you’ve had a stillbirth in the past 12 months; you’re getting treatment in an NHS hospital from a hospital dentist; or you receive War Pension Scheme payments or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability. You can also get free treatment if you or your partner receive an income-related employment and support allowance, pension credit guarantee or universal credit.
