Scottish Government

PRESCRIPTION PRE-PAYMENT CERTIFICATE ( PPC) REFUNDS

You can get a full refund if, within the first month of a 4 or 12 month PPC, any of the following happens:

• you become entitled to free prescriptions and,if applicable, you have a valid NHS exemption certificate;

or

• you go into hospital and remain there until the expiry of the certificate;

or

• the PPC holder dies, or goes into hospital and dies there, before the certificate runs out.

Partial refunds: 4 and 12 month PPCs

You can get a proportional refund if, after the first month of a 4 or 12 month PPC start date:

• the PPC holder dies;

or

• goes into hospital and dies there before the certificate runs out.

The fee will be refunded proportionally in respect of complete months unexpired.

For example, if a 12 month PPC starts in June and the holder dies in January, the refund will cover February to May and will be 4/12 of the fee paid.

Partial refunds: 12 month PPCs only

You can get a partial refund for 12 month PPCs if, in months 2-4 following the PPC start date, one of the following happens:

• you become entitled to free prescriptions and, if applicable, you have a valid NHS exemption certificate;

or

• you go into hospital and remain there until the expiry of the certificate.

Your refund will be the cost of the 12 month PPC less the cost of a 4 month PPC.

TIME LIMIT FOR MAKING PPC REFUND CLAIMS

You must make your claim for a refund within the following time limits:

• Following the death of the PPC holder:claim within 24 months of death;
• If you become entitled to free prescriptions:
  -4 month PPC holders: claim within 4 months of the start of the PPC;
  -12 month PPC holders: claim within 7 months of the start of the PPC;

• If you go into hospital and remain there until the certificate expires: claim within 3 months of the PPC expiry date.

Where to send your refund claim

If you wish to claim a refund for any of the reasons set out above, send the original PPC to the Practitioner Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland, telling them the reason why you want to claim a refund. Read the three following paragraphs to find the address you should write to.

If you live in Dumfries & Galloway NHS Board Area please contact: NHS National Services Scotland Glasgow Regional Office:

As of 27 June 2011, the Glasgow Regional Office contact details will be:

If you live in the Borders NHS Board Area please contact: NHS National Services Scotland Edinburgh Regional Office:

Any queries regarding medical or maternity certificates should be directed to the relevant regional office of NHS National Services Scotland at the following addresses:

As of 27 June 2011, the Glasgow Regional Office contact details will be:

For Borders, Fife, Forth Valley and Lothian write to:

For Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Tayside write to: