We will be laying regulations before Parliament to increase National Health Service charges in England from 1 April 2008. There will be an increase in the prescription charge of 25 pence from £6.85 to £7.10 for each quantity of a drug or appliance dispensed.
The cost of a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) will rise to £27.85 for a 3 month certificate and to £102.50 for an annual certificate. PPCs offer savings for those needing more than three items in three months or 14 in one year.
Prescription charges are expected to raise some £435 million for the NHS in 2008-09. This figure excludes prescription charges collected by dispensing doctors, which is not collected centrally, but remains with primary care trusts.
Charges for elastic stockings and tights, wigs and fabric supports supplied through the hospitals will be increased similarly.
The increase is below the current level of inflation.
Details of the revised prescription and appliance increases are as follows:
Item Current Charges New Charge Prescription £6.85 £7.10 12-month PPC £98.70 £102.50 3-month PPC £26.85 £27.85 Surgical brassiere £23.10 £24.00 Abdominal or spinal support £34.95 £36.30 Stock modacrylic wig £57.00 £59.20 Partial human hair wig £150.75 £156.60 Full bespoke human hair wig £220.50 £229.05