NHS Prescription Charges

Tuesday 29th April 2025 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)]

The Prime Minister, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer), has announced that NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen for the first time in three years. This builds on wider Government action as part of the plan for change to tackle the cost of living crisis, and will save patients around £18 million in 2025-26.

The single charge for prescriptions in England will remain at £9.90. The cost of prescription prepayment certificates will also remain the same, with three-month PPCs staying at £32.05,12-month PPCs at £114.50, and the hormone replacement therapy 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 offers help with prescription payments; there are free prescriptions for eligible people in certain groups, such as pensioners, students, and those who receive state benefits or live in care homes.

The prescription charge freeze builds on wider government action to tackle the cost of living, including the roll-out of free breakfast clubs, expanded childcare through 300 new school-based nurseries, lowering the cost of school uniforms, and extending the fuel duty freeze—all aimed at easing financial pressures on families across the country.

This announcement also follows news last month of the Government agreeing funding with Community Pharmacy England worth an extra £617 million over two years. The investment comes alongside reforms to deliver a raft of patient benefits, as part of the Government’s agenda to shift the focus of care from hospitals into the community, so that people can more easily access care and support on their high streets.

Alongside action to rebuild the NHS, the Government’s plan for change is focused on growing the economy to improve living standards across the country. The charges freeze will help contribute to this.

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