Prescription Charges to Increase From 1st April 2023

Posted on March 22nd, 2023

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that from 1st April 2023, the NHS prescription charge will increase to £9.65 per prescription item (note: some items may incur more than one charge).

Amendments to the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations have been laid before Parliament which will introduce changes for NHS prescription charge and prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs), as well as the introduction of the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) PPC.

The cost of PPCs has also increased, with the price of a three-month PPC at £31.25 (an increase of £1.00) and a 12-month PPC at £111.60 (an increase of £3.50). PPCs offer savings for those needing four or more items in three months, or 12 or more items in a year.

The recently announced HRT PPC will cost £19.30 (the cost of two prescription charges). Please note that whilst the HRT PPC was originally announced as costing £18.70, this has increased to reflect the rise in the prescription charge. This PPC can only be used when a patient is prescribed a listed HRT medicine.

Prescription charge rises to £9.65 – PSNC Website