Prescription charges set to rise to almost £10 next month

Prescription charges will rise to almost £10 from next month, with pharmacy leaders accusing the government of increasing a ‘tax on the vulnerable’.

How much will my prescription be?

From the May 1:

• a single prescription will rise by 25 pence from £9.65 to £9.90.
• An annual supply of HRT medication for those on the menopause will rise from £19.30 to £19.80.
• Prescription prepayment certificate (PPC), for those who do not qualify for free medicines, will rise from £111.60 to £114.50 annually.

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.'

Around £600million is generated each year in revenue from prescription charges in England for the delivery of NHS services.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it had taken steps to help with the cost of prescriptions and almost 89% of items in England were provided free of charge. But even with free items and exemptions, upping costs of medication will take it’s toll on the most financially vulnerable.

How can I cut costs one prescriptions?

One way to save money on prescriptions is to ask for a bigger one. You’re only charged for a prescription- not how much medicine is in it.

So, if you have a medicine you take regularly that doesn’t come with risks when overused, your doctor might be able to give you a bigger prescription.

This means you’d only have to pay £9.65 as one charge for a bigger amount of medicine. You might be able to get three months’ worth rather than one month.

Your doctor might not be able to say yes depending on what your prescription is, but it’s worth asking because it could save you money.