This relaxation of the requirements applies only to patients whose date of birth or age is computer generated on either a paper prescription form or appears as part of an electronic prescription message (ETP). The relaxation also applies to repeat prescriptions where the patients date of birth or age is computer generated.

Those patients claiming exemption on age grounds, but whose date of birth or age is handwritten will have to continue to make a signed declaration.

Previously, as a temporary measure, the PPA would not switch age exempt prescriptions submitted as Group 1 where the declaration was not completed but a computer generated age or date of birth was printed. The changes to the NHS Charges Regulations mean that this temporary arrangement will now continue permanently.