UP to 88 patients in a Worcestershire town have been wrongly fined for attempting to get free prescriptions.

The patients were exempt from prescription charges because they had a valid medical exemption, maternity exemption, war pension exemption or prescription pre-payment certificate.

But an administration error meant they later received a letter saying that they were not eligible for free prescriptions and would have to pay a £35.50 penalty charge per item, plus repay the £7.10 cost of the prescription – a total cost of £42.60 per medication.

The letters were sent out to patients in Upton-upon-Severn in error say leaders at Worcestershire Primary Care Trust.

The letters, from the PCT’s counter fraud department, have been sent to 88 patients who claimed exemption from charges when collecting prescriptions from Alliance Pharmacy, High Street, Upton-upon-Severn, in April. So far 23 have been found to have been sent in error, but more people could still come forward.

The letter tells them that their claim for exemption has been checked and explains that, after checking with the relevant authority, the PCT is satisfied that they are not entitled to the exemption and will be charged a penalty.

The PCT has since identified that this is not the case.

Brian Hanford, director of finance at Worcestershire PCT, said: “We have a duty to protect the public purse and have to remain vigilant against prescription fraud.

“Each month we request that prescriptions from a variety of sources are checked by the NHS prescription pricing department for medical exemption status, pre-payment certificate status and NHS tax credit exemption. Other exemptions are checked with the Department of Work and Pensions.

“In this instance, it appears that there has been an administrative error and a number of patients have mistakenly received a letter questioning their exemption entitlement.

“We offer our sincere apologies to these patients and we are writing to them to apologise.”

If you believe that you have received a penalty charge letter relating to prescription charges and you are exempt from payment, please contact the PCT’s counter fraud team on 01905 760070.