FOI-02926

Thank you for your request for information about the following: 
 
##Request 
 
<i>How many pregnant women have been fined (received a PCN) for not having a prescription certificate every year for the last five years.  
 
For this year, I would like to ask for the data to the date this request is received. I would like to ask for the total revenue raised by the fines for each year, and the average value of the fine. I would also like to ask how many fines were overturned on appeal from the pregnant woman in question for the same period </i>
 
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 16 June 2025. 
 
We requested clarification on 8 July 2025 with the following: 
 
<i>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 that by “not having a prescription certificate” you mean just a maternity exemption certificate or do you mean to include other certificates and benefits also? 
  
Please note that we are unable to determine how many pregnant women have been fined. We can only show how many people claimed to have a maternity exemption in place. Would this be suitable for you?</i>
 
You responded on 9 July 2025: 
 
<i>I do mean the maternity exemption certificate.  
  
How is it possible that you do not know how many women have been fined? Surely that must be a record kept by some authority - if it is not you, please advise who.  
  
Otherwise would be happy to accept how many have claimed the exemption. </i>
 
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 and a copy of the information is attached. 
 
Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data. 
 
The data shows the number of PCNs issued to people who claimed to have a maternity exemption but did not have a maternity exemption certificate in place. We do not capture gender information and therefore can’t break this down to how many women have been charged. 
 
No PCNs were issued in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  
##Data Queries 
 
Please contact <a href="mailto: foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk"> foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a> 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 <a href="mailto: communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk">communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a>. 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. 

Tags: Maternity Exemption, PCNs, Penalty Charge Notice
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log