NHS prescription charges in England frozen for first time in three years

NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen for the first time in three years, the government has announced.

It means the cost of prescriptions will be kept under the cost of £10 – at £9.90 – in a move the government says will deliver £18m in savings for patients.

Meanwhile, a three-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) will be frozen at £32.05, while a 12-month PPC will remain at £114.50.

The announcement comes as voters across England head to the polls on Thursday for local council elections.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Fixing our NHS will be a long road – but by working closer with our pharmacies we’re saving money and shifting care to the community where it’s closer to your home.

“We made the difficult but necessary choices at the budget to fund moves like this and change our NHS so it can once again be there for you when you need it.”

NHS prescription charges apply in England only, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales abolishing the fee after devolution.

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The last time they were frozen was in 2022, under Boris Johnson’s Conservative government, when it was also used to help people with the rising cost of living.

Around 89% of prescriptions in England are already dispensed free of charge, including for children, over-65s, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions.

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Annual charges can be made in instalments, allowing those who need regular medicine to spend just over £2 a week.