The cost of NHS prescriptions are set to rise for a second year running. According to the Government, the price of prescriptions as well as wigs and fabric supports will increase on May 1 this year.
This means that people will pay 25p more for a single prescription – taking the cost to £9.90.
The 2.59 percent increase will apply to each individual item. So if you have more than one on a prescription then you will pay 25p more for each of them.
It also applies to those who pay in advance through prepayment certificates (PPCs).
As a result, three-month PPCs will cost £32.05 – an increase of 80p.
While the 12 month certificate will increase by £2.90 from £111.60 to £114.40.
PPCs cover the cost of all prescriptions bought over a set time period, which can work out cheaper if you need a lot of prescriptions – for example four or more over a three-month period.
The annual Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) certificate that introduced last year to lower costs for menopausal women will rise from £19.30 to £19.80.
And the cost of wigs and fabric supports is also going to rise by the same percentage.
A surgical bra will cost £32.50 while a full bespoke human hair wig will rise by £7.85 to £310.55.
People living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not pay for prescriptions.
In England children and young people in full-time education along with people over 60 are entitled to free prescriptions.
Others also qualify for free prescriptions including those on low incomes, pregnant and new mums, and those with certain medical conditions.
The full list of new charges for those who do pay in England from May 1, 2024 are:
- Single prescription charge – £9.65 to £9.90
- 3-month PPC – £31.25 to £32.05
- 12-month PPC – £111.60 to £114.50
- HRT PPC – £19.30 to £19.80
- Surgical bra – £31.70 to £32.50
- Abdominal or spinal support – £47.80 to £49.05
- Stock acrylic wig – £78.15 to £80.15
- Partial human hair wig – £207.00 to £212.35
- Full bespoke human hair wig – £302.70 to £310.55.
