The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that NHS prescription charges will be frozen for the first time in 3 years to help with the cost of living.
Charges for prescriptions will remain at £9.90 for a single charge or £32.05 for a 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPCs). 12 month PPCs will remain at £114.50 and can be paid for in instalments, meaning people can get all the medicines they need for just over £2 a week.
The prescription freeze will also apply to NHS wigs and fabric supports. The current exemption categories remain unchanged and the NHS Low Income scheme remains in place.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of the current prescription charge and also the value for money represented by pre-payment certificates.