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.