BBC financial expert Paul Lewis has advised individuals to check their eligibility for free prescriptions following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ confirmation of prescription charges for the upcoming year. Lewis emphasized that England is the sole country in the UK where most people have to pay for their prescriptions, unlike Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland where all NHS prescriptions are free.
Ahead of the Budget announcement, the Chancellor announced a freeze on prescription charges in England for the next year. Reeves highlighted the ongoing financial strain on households due to the cost of living and stressed the importance of not compromising health due to medication costs.
The price for a single prescription item will remain at £9.90, and pre-payment certificates for three months and a year will also be frozen for 2026/27. This decision extends the freeze initiated in April, saving patients an estimated £12 million in the upcoming year.
Chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, Olivier Picard, welcomed the freeze but reiterated the organization’s advocacy for free prescriptions. He expressed concerns about individuals skipping medication due to costs and emphasized the necessity of removing financial barriers to essential medicines. The Chancellor’s Budget announcement is scheduled for Wednesday, November 26.