Prescription Charges

The NHS prescription charge increased to £9.65 for each medicine or appliance (£19.30 per pair of elastic hosiery) from 1st April 2023.

Prescriptions are FREE for:

• children under 16
• full-time students aged 16, 17 and 18 (must be in full-time education)
• people aged 60 years or over
• people with a valid maternity exemption certificate
• people with a valid medical exemption certificate
• people with a valid prescription pre-payment certificate*
• people with a valid War Pension exemption certificate
• people named on a current HC2 charges certificate
• prescribed free-of-charge contraceptives
• people getting Income Support or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• people getting income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• people entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate
• someone who has a partner who gets Pension Credit guarantee credit (PCGC)

* A prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) may save you money. They cost £31.25 for 3 months and £111.60 for 12 months, (offering a saving to anyone who needs more than three items in 3 months or thirteen items in 12 months). The recently introduced 12-month Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) PPC is £19.30.

To apply over the phone call 0300 330 134. You can also apply online.

A prescription charge is a contribution to the NHS. It is not a payment to the pharmacist. It bears no relationship to the cost of the medicine.

Please note the following:

NHS prescription charges have been abolished in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

However you are only entitled to free prescriptions in Wales if you are:

• A patient registered with a Welsh GP and you receive a prescription from a Welsh pharmacy
• A Welsh patient who has an English GP and an entitlement card and you receive your prescription from a Welsh pharmacy

You are only entitled to free prescriptions in Scotland if you are:

• A patient registered with a Scottish GP and you receive your prescription from a Scottish pharmacy
• A Scottish patient who has an English GP and an entitlement card and you receive your prescription from a Scottish pharmacy

*Our home delivery service is based in England. English prices and exemption rules apply, even if you live in Wales or Scotland*