The price of NHS prescriptions and prepayment certificates will rise on 1 May, the Government announced.
Charges for services will increase by 2.59% or rounded up to the nearest 5p, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed.
The cost for other medical products, including wigs and surgical bras, will also go up at the same rate next month.
Every medicine or prescription provided will cost £9.90 and a three-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) will set you back £32.05. As of 1 May, a 12-month PPC will cost £114.50.
Further rises will be applied to a PPC for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which will cost £19.80. The rate increase is more than other services, as this is set at twice the single prescription charge.
Wigs to cost over £310 from May
Meanwhile, a full bespoke human hair wig will shoot up to £310.55, a jump of £7.85 from its previous £302.70 price. A surgical bra used for use after breast procedures will increase to £32.50 – a rise of 80p.
A PPC covers all of your NHS prescriptions for a set fee and is issued by your doctor or a healthcare certificate provider. You can opt for this as a way of saving money if you need more than three regular NHS prescriptions.
It follows a jump in dental care costs this week, which rose by 4% on 1 April. The PPC increases were applied as part of amendments made to the NHS Charges for Drugs and Appliances Regulations presented to Parliament on 3 April.
Here are the full changes to your prescription fees.
NHS price changes (as of 1 May)
| Item | Charge from 1 April 2023 to 30 April 2024 | Charge from 1 May 2024 | Change in £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single prescription charge | £9.65 | £9.90 | £0.25 |
| 3-month PPC | £31.25 | £32.05 | £0.80 |
| 12-month PPC | £111.60 | £114.50 | £2.90 |
| HRT PPC | £19.30 | £19.80 | £0.50 |
| Surgical bra | £31.70 | £32.50 | £0.80 |
| Abdominal or spinal support | £47.80 | £49.05 | £1.25 |
| Stock acrylic wig | £78.15 | £80.15 | £2.00 |
| Partial human hair wig | £207.00 | £212.35 | £5.35 |
| Full bespoke human hair wig | £302.70 | £310.55 | £7.85 |
