Cancer patients were able to apply for Medical Exemption (MEDEX) certificates (which entitle them to exemption from prescription charges) from 25 January 2009, although these certificates were not valid until 1 April 2009. From this date until 9 September 2009, the total number of valid prescription charge certificate applications processed by NHS Help with Health Costs in England, for cancer patients resident in England, where cancer was the only medical condition ticked on the FP92A application form, was 59,900. The Department is unable to provide the proportionate analysis requested in the question because data on the total number of cancer patients in England who could benefit from the exemption are not available. Nor is it possible to provide a sub-national breakdown of the number of MEDEX issued for cancer, as these data are not held.