We call on the UK government to freeze prescription charges for 2024 and 2025

Representatives from Bechet's UK, Crohn's and Colitis UK, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Parkinson's UK, the Pharmacists' Defence Association, Royal College of GPs and Royal Pharmaceutical Society handing in the #FreezeTheCharge open letter to the Department of Health and Social Care - February 2024

On Thursday 29 February 2024 we handed in our open letter, signed by 616 people, calling for prescription charges to be frozen for 2024 and 2025.

Each individual prescription item costs £9.65, and at a time when living costs are increasing, working age people with long-term conditions are being forced daily to choose between heating, eating and taking their vital medication. 

Living with a long-term health condition or disability often adds to the cost of living. Many need more heating to stay well and extra electricity to power assistive technology devices.

We are deeply concerned that a further rise in the charge this year will lead to people skipping or not taking the full dose of their medication, and we fear this will make them sicker and put more pressure on the already under pressure NHS. 

We are pleased that hundreds have joined our call to ask the Minister for Primary Care and Public Health​ to freeze the prescription charge in England, to keep people with long-term conditions well and reduce the burden on the NHS.