If you paid for a prescription before finding out you were entitled, you might be able to claim a refund.
Refunds must be claimed within 3 months of the date you made payment.
How to apply for a refund of NHS prescription charges depends on the UK county you live in.
England
To claim a prescription refund, you must ask your pharmacist for a ‘FP57’ refund receipt when you pay, you cannot get one later.
Take your FP57 receipt and proof you were entitled at the time the prescription was collected to any pharmacy. The pharmacy will issue your refund directly.
If you have a valid HC2 and an FP57 dated within 3 months of the start date, you can send this to us to be authorised. We'll return this to you with a covering letter. You can then take this to a pharmacy to claim a refund.
Health Exemption Services
NHS Business Services Authority
Bridge House
152 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6SN
Refunds are authorised within 5 days of receipt and posted back to you.
Scotland
If you take an English prescription to a Scottish pharmacy and pay for it, collect a ‘HCSR receipt’. Send your receipt and evidence you were entitled when the prescription was collected to:
Practitioner Services
NHS National Services Scotland
Gyle Square
1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
Wales
If you take an English prescription to a Welsh pharmacy and pay for it, collect a ‘WP57 receipt’. Send your receipt and evidence you were entitled when the prescription was collected to your local NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership.
Northern Ireland
If you take an English prescription to a Northern Irish pharmacy and pay for it, collect a ‘PS7 receipt’. Send your receipt and proof you were entitled when the prescription was collected to:
The Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Pharmacy & Prescribing Branch
Room D3.22
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3SQ
Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs and apply online.