Prescription Fees

There are a range of exemptions from charges for patients. To find out if you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions visit below. If you have to pay for prescriptions, there are ways to save money by purchasing a Pre-Payment Card.

NHS prescriptions


Pre-Payment Card

If you receive regular prescriptions you can save money by purchasing a Pre Payment Card. The link and more information is here. For example, you can pay 10 x monthly direct debit payments of £10.40 and this covers an unlimited number of prescriptions. This can also be purchased for periods as short as 3 months. 

Sign up online

From 1 April 2019, the NHS charges are:

  • Prescription (per item) £9.90
  • A 3 month Prescription Prepayment card costs £32.05 and will save you money if you need more than 3 prescribed items in 3 months.
  • A 12 month Prescription Prepayment card costs £114.50 and will save you money if you need more than 11 prescribed items in a year.
  • A hormone replacement therapy (HRT) Prepayment card costs £19.80 and will save you money if you need more than 2 prescribed qualifying HRT items in a year.
  • PPC’s are available by 10 monthly direct debit payments.

The following medicines are free:

  • Medicines administered at a hospital or NHS walk-in centre
  • Prescribed contraceptives
  • Medicines personally administered by a GP
  • Medicines supplied at a hospital or Integrated Care Board (ICB) clinic for the treatment of a sexually transmitted infection or tuberculosis.