Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

Please can you tell me:

1. How many Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued in the timeframe specified and;

2. How many of these were subsequently withdrawn because a valid exemption was confirmed to be in place following a challenge.

3. Please can you also tell me how much it costs the NHS annually to administer the PCN system and how much revenue the system generates annually?

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 19 June 2025.

We requested clarification on 24 June 2025 with the below:

Therefore I would be grateful if you would confirm if you would like the data for Prescription Exemption Checking Service, Dental Exemption Checking Service or both?

You responded on 25 June 2025:

Please may I have the data for both the Prescription Exemption Checking Service and the Dental Exemption Checking Service.

Regarding how much it costs the NHS annually to administer the PCN system and how much revenue the system generates annually, are you also able to break this data down between the Prescription Exemption Checking Service and the Dental Exemption Checking Service? If not, no problem.

We requested further clarification on 18 July 2025:

I am writing to ask you to clarify your request. This is because we need further details from you in order to identify and locate the information.

Therefore I would be grateful if you would confirm what you mean by “system” specifically?

You responded on 18 July 2025 with the below:

Please can you also tell me how much it costs the NHS annually to issue PCNs and how much revenue these generate annually?

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Our response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested is attached.

Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data.

Data is provided for the Prescription Exemption Checking Service (PECS) and the Dental Exemption Checking Service (DECS)

Please note that 2021 figures were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question 3 - Please can you also tell me how much it costs the NHS annually to issue PCNs and how much revenue these generate annually?

Please note PCNs could have been issued at any time, but this only shows when the income was received.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk 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 communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. 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 2025”. 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.