Prescription charges set to rise on 1 April 2023

Health Minister Neil O'Brien announced today that prescription charges in England will rise by 3.21%.
From 1 April 2023 people in England will have to pay:

• £9.60 per prescription item or appliance
• £31.25 for a 3 month Prescription Prepayment Certificate
• £111.60 for a 12 month Prescription Prepayment Certificate
• £19.30 for the new hormone replacement therapy prescription that starts on 1 April 2023

NHS surgical bras, abdominal or spinal supports and wigs will also increase. This statement gives more information. 

Laura Cockram, Chair of the Prescription Charges Coalition, condemned the UK Government’s decision to raise the cost of prescription charges.

“Today’s announcement is bitterly disappointing for people with long term health conditions in England. It fails those who are being forced to make tough choices everyday about whether they feed themselves and their families, pay their bills or take their medication, which could keep them out of hospital.

“This decision reflects the Government’s disregard for the needs of people with long term health conditions, who are already avoiding picking up their prescriptions, because they can’t afford them. This rise will result in sick people relying more on NHS services that are already at breaking point.

“Far from this government’s aim of improving life expectancy for people with stroke, dementia, asthma and mental ill health, this increase in the prescription charge will create a health emergency for people with these conditions and other long term conditions in England. The UK Government must urgently commit to reviewing the prescription charges exemption list, or it will fail in its bid to create a healthier nation.”  

You can find out more about the Prescription Prepayment Certificate or help you can get with NHS costs on the NHS Business Services Authority website.