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Costs for prescriptions have now increased to £9.35 per item prescribed by the NHS, with the certain groups exempt from paying listed underneath.

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NHS England requires the majority of working adults to pay for their prescription charges whenever prescribed an item such as a medical appliance or a drug, by a healthcare professional.

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Those who can write prescriptions are trained nurses, pharmacists, dentists, doctors, and any other healthcare professional with the required independent prescribers training.

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Certain groups remain exempt from being charged for prescriptions by the NHS, including:

• Hospital inpatients.

• Those aged 60 and above.

• Those aged 16 and under.

• Those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education.

• Those with a specified medical condition and a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx).

• Pregnant women or recent mothers within the last 12 months of giving birth with a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx).

• Those with a continual disability that requires assistance when going out and a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx).

• Those with a valid war pension exemption certificate with the prescription falling under an accepted disability qualification.

For more information and to check whether you are eligible to receive NHS prescriptions free of charge, click here: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-help

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NHS Scotland and Wales allow everyone to receive prescriptions for free, whereas NHS England are now charging £9.35 per item for anything prescribed.

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As with the increase in price, those eligible to receive their free prescriptions are now being advised to ensure they still fall under the category to do so, as they will face fines of up to £100 if not.

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The NHS BSA stated, "It’s your own responsibility to check that you’re entitled before claiming free prescriptions,"

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"If you claim free prescriptions that you’re not entitled to, you could have to pay a penalty charge of up to £100."

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With 1.04 billion prescription items dispensed from pharmacies across England in 2019 to 2020, it is important to check your eligibility for certain items.

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