New NHS rules start today but 'only patients in England will pay'

James Rodger
·2-min read

New NHS prescription rules take hold today - with patients in England facing higher costs. The cost of a single item NHS prescription is rising from £9.65 to £9.90, an increase of around three per cent, while a three-month pre-payment certificates (PPCs) is hiked up from £31.25 to £32.05.

And a 12-month PPC will increase from £111.60 to £114.50, the NHS has confirmed. The PPC for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) will rise from £19.30 to £19.80, while the cost of wigs and fabric supports will also rise.

England is the only country in the UK that still charges for prescriptions. Indeed, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, patients are not charged for prescriptions from the NHS - something that has rankled people south of the border today.

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Replying to the warning, a fuming Brit said: "The excuse they will use will be that they can't afford to stop the charges so let's help them find the money. Lets start by making members of the House Of Lords pay Income Tax on the Tax Free Daily Allowances.

"Next let's stop us taxpayers subsiding members of Parliament's food and drink. Then how about reducing how mush we pay into Members of Parliament and Civil Servants GOLD PLATED PENSIONS." A second said: "The legacy of Thatcher still looms large in the British bit of the UK today.

"It was her who brought in prescription charges, in the 1980s. The next general election is just around the corner. Do you want more of the same? If, not, don't vote Tory or Reform. Because they're two sides of the same coin."

"Not so much worried about the prescription costs as I am about finding a pharmacy that can actually dispense the items within a couple of weeks," another sniped. Laura Cockram, head of campaigns at Parkinson's UK and chairwoman of the coalition, said: "The NHS prescription charge price increase has struck fear into people living with long-term health conditions, such as Parkinson's."

"People are already struggling financially due to the cost-of-living crisis, and increasing the cost of prescriptions will result in more people missing, reducing, or delaying taking their medication, meaning their condition will deteriorate," she added.

She went on: "There is limited financial support that charities can offer to offset Government shortcomings. That's why we're calling on the UK Government to freeze the charge in 2025 and commit to urgently reviewing the prescription charge exemption list."

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