The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7341 p325
19 March 2005

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English prescription charge rises to £6.50 from 1 April

Prescription charges in England are to increase by 10p per item on 1 April, rising to £6.50, it was announced last week. Making the announcement, health minister Rosie Winterton said: “This modest increase will contribute £452m towards the cost of the NHS.”

The price of prepayment certificates will rise to £33.90 for a four-month certificate (an increase of 50p) and £93.20 for a 12-month certificate (an increase of £1.40).

The National Pharmaceutical Association has condemned this latest rise in charges, saying that the current system is outdated and penalises poorer patients. “We know that prescription charges deter many people from getting medicines which their doctor prescribes,” said John D’Arcy, chief executive of the NPA. “Patients on multiple medications may be forced to make their own, potentially ill-informed decisions about which medicines to forgo.”

Prescription charges in Scotland will also go up by 10p to £6.50 per item, while in Wales charges will be reduced by £1 to £4 per item (PJ, 12 March, p293).