Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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NHS costs and exemptions

Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines.  Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication

NHS charges

From 1 April 2009, the charges are:

Prescription: £7.20
12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £104.00
3-month PPC: £28.25

Full details are contained in:

Exemption from paying prescription charges

The Prescription Pricing Division of the NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for issuing prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs), medical (MedEx) and maternity (MatEx) exemption certificates in England.

Procedure for dispensers issuing and pharmacies refunding FP57 forms in England

From 1 April 2005 pharmacists pay prescription charge refunds. The Post Office no longer pays refunds.

Guidance for pharmacists on Welsh devolution and prescription charges

From 1 April 2007 there are different arrangements for prescription charges between Wales and the rest of the UK. In Wales everybody gets free prescriptions. As a pharmacist working in England, you must apply the rules which apply in England. If you get a prescription written in Wales the English rules apply.

Guidance on exemption from prescription charges for renal dialysis patients

This clarification of guidance on exemption from prescription charges for renal dialysis patients was issued in the Chief Executive's Bulletin of 1-7 December 2000, Issue 44.

Prescription charges for drugs given to outpatients in clinical trials

The document DS21/75 reflects current policy.

FP92/96 statistical returns

Since the transfer of responsibility for exemption certificates to the NHS Business Services Authority Prescription Pricing Division, the Department of Health is no longer collecting information for the FP92/96 statistical returns.

Additional links

Review of prescription charges

From 1 April 2009, prescription charges for cancer patients will be abolished.

Employment Support and Allowance

Information on free prescriptions for people in receipt of the income-related ESA, which replaces Incapacity Benefit from 27 October 2008.

Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPC)

People who have to pay prescription charges can buy a prepayment certificate, which offers considerable savings to those who need regular prescriptions.

FP57 forms

New arrangements for paying prescription charge refunds have been agreed with the PSNC and are being introduced in England. Pharmacists will pay prescription charge refunds from 1 April 2005. The Post Office will stop paying refunds from that date. This notice replaces all previous notices/guidance about FP57s.

Additional private care

Following the Secretary of State's response to Professor Mike Richards's review, guidance has now been issued:

NHS dental charges

How to access NHS dental services, find out if you quality for free NHS treatment, and how much you should pay if you do not qualify.

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