Yahoo News Full list of new NHS prescription charges as changes come into force next week
Millions of NHS patients in England will face higher medicinal costs from next week.
The cost of a single NHS prescription will go up to almost £10, following an increase of 25p this year to £9.90. This is an increase of around 2.5 per cent, which is below the rate of inflation, but the increase could still make life more difficult for people on low fixed incomes.
Those concerned about the cost of their repeat prescriptions can get a prepayment certificate (PPC), which charges a fixed amount for a full year of prescriptions, which is also going up by almost £3 to £114.50 from £111.60. All of these changes to prescription prices will take effect from May 1.
Read more: DWP benefit claimants are able to get free NHS prescriptions - full list of those eligible
Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said: “Yet again community pharmacies must be the bearers of bad news as the Government decides to raise the NHS prescription charge. As the cost of living continues to put strain on the most vulnerable in society, many patients will have to make unbearable decisions about which medicines they can afford to pay for.
"We remain opposed to the charge: it is a tax on the vulnerable and one which forces pharmacy teams to act as tax collectors on top of the intolerable wider pressures that community pharmacy is facing.”
New NHS prescription charges
Below are the new NHS prescription charges which will come into effect from Wednesday, May 1:
Item | Current charge (1 April 2023 to 30 April 2024) | Charge from 1 May 2024 | Change in £ |
|---|---|---|---|
£9.65 | £9.90 | £0.25 | |
£31.25 | £32.05 | £0.80 | |
£111.60 | £114.50 | £2.90 | |
£19.30 | £19.80 | £0.50 | |
£31.70 | £32.50 | £0.80 | |
£47.80 | £49.05 | £1.25 | |
£78.15 | £80.15 | £2.00 | |
£207.00 | £212.35 | £5.35 | |
£302.70 | £310.55 | £7.85 |
Some NHS patients may be able to claim for free prescriptions of receive support for other NHS costs. To find out if you're eligible, you can fill in the NHS Business Services Authority checker here.
