Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and
Safety (): The Prime Minister has
announced that NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen
for a second successive year.
This builds on wider government action as part of the Plan for
Change to tackle the cost of living pressures and will save
patients around £12 million in 2026-27.
The single charge for prescriptions in England will remain at
£9.90. The cost of prescription prepayment certificates (PPC)
will also remain the same with 3-month PPCs staying at
£32.05,12-month PPCs at £114.50 and the HRT PPC staying at
£19.80.
The charges freeze will also apply to NHS wigs and fabric
supports; these prices will remain at current levels:
- Surgical brassiere £32.50
- Abdominal or spinal support £49.05
- Stock modacrylic wig £80.15
- Partial human hair wig £212.35
- Full bespoke human hair wig £310.55
Around 89% of prescription items in England are already dispensed
free of charge to children, over-60s, pregnant women, and those
with certain medical conditions. This freeze will not impact
current exemptions. All working age adults who would normally pay
for their prescriptions, which is estimated to be around 40% of
the population, could benefit from the freeze.
In addition to the freeze on charges, the NHS low-income scheme
continues to offer help to those on low incomes who otherwise
need to pay for prescriptions, while prescriptions are free for
eligible people in certain groups such as pensioners, students
aged under 19 in qualifying full time education, and those who
receive certain qualifying state benefits or live in care homes.
