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Patient exemption checking: a guide for dental teams in England

From 1 September 2021, the temporary signature suspension has been lifted. Patients, or their representatives, will again be required to sign the reverse of NHS prescription, dental and eye care forms, or tokens for prescriptions presented at the pharmacy.

For dental teams, any time a patient makes a declaration that they are entitled to free or reduced cost NHS dental treatment you must:   

  • ask them to complete and sign a declaration form (FP17PR) before any treatment begins  

  • ask the patient to complete the ‘Claim for free or reduced cost NHS dental services’ section of the form, if they are entitled   

  • ask to see evidence of their eligibility  

  • note on your practice records if they show a valid exemption certificate, along with the expiry date of the certificate.

We've produced guidance and a communications toolkit to help you understand your legislative requirements, follow the correct procedure, and provide support to patients.

Patient exemption checking: a guide for dental teams in England (PDF: 197KB)

Patient exemption checking: a communications toolkit for dental teams in England (PDF: 1MB)

Not all benefits entitle people to free or reduced cost NHS dental treatment. Patients can find out if they’re entitled to help with NHS costs using the online eligibility checker