The rules and regulations for charges to patients for their medicines are complicated. There are a number of 'grey areas' and uncertainties as to what is and isn't available free of charge on the NHS. This means that sometimes doctors, nurses and even hospital Trusts will interpret the rules differently, which can lead to confusion. The rules are also different in Wales where all NHS prescriptions free of charge.

If you are an in-patient all the treatment you receive while in hospital and the medication you are given to take home is free of charge.

If you are an out-patient, any treatment you are given at the clinic is free. But if the doctor gives you a prescription for tablets or medicines to take at home, you have to pay the prescription charge for these (unless you get free prescriptions).

If you are given chemotherapy as a day-patient the rules are less clear as day patients aren't mentioned. Any drugs given while you are in the clinic should be free of charge. But, it isn't clear whether you need to pay for prescriptions for medicines given to you in clinic to take at home. Most hospitals, apply the in-patient rule, that medication given to you to take home when you leave hospital is supplied at no cost. But not all hospitals interpret the rules in this way and a few may ask for a prescription charge for these drugs.

So, if your mother goes for her chemotherapy as a day-patient the chemotherapy drugs she is given in the clinic will be free. If, she is given tablets or medicines to take home with her (like anti-sickness drugs or steroid pills) these will usually (but not always) be free of charge as well. But, if she is given a prescription for medication she will have to pay the prescription charge for these drugs, unless she gets free prescriptions.