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10/03/2005
Prescription charges to rise in April
The government has announced that prescription charges will rise by 10p from April 1 in England.
The increase will take the price of a single prescription item to £6.50. The cost of prescription prepayment certificates will also rise – by 50p for a four-month certificate (£33.90) and by £1.40 for a twelve-month certificate (£93.20).
Dental treatment charges will also increase – from £378 to £384 for a single course of treatment.
The prescription charge increases are expected to raise £452 million for the NHS in 2005-2006.
Commenting on the rise, Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: "We have held the increase to 10 pence for the seventh consecutive year, well below the rate of inflation to ensure that people can get the prescriptions they need, at prices they can afford. Through our extensive exemption arrangements, 86 per cent of prescription items are dispensed free, with another 5 per cent dispensed to people with prepayment certificates at no additional charge."
Around fifty per cent of the population are entitled to free prescriptions, including the over-sixties, under-sixteens and those on benefits such as Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.
The government also plans to help those on low incomes with complex sight problems with the cost of glasses or contact lenses by raising the value of optical voucher values by 2.5%.
The Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley was reported as saying: "From the government that brought you the promise of free healthcare and accused the Conservatives of wanting to introduce charges, comes this announcement of higher NHS charges."
(KMcA/SP)
The increase will take the price of a single prescription item to £6.50. The cost of prescription prepayment certificates will also rise – by 50p for a four-month certificate (£33.90) and by £1.40 for a twelve-month certificate (£93.20).
Dental treatment charges will also increase – from £378 to £384 for a single course of treatment.
The prescription charge increases are expected to raise £452 million for the NHS in 2005-2006.
Commenting on the rise, Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: "We have held the increase to 10 pence for the seventh consecutive year, well below the rate of inflation to ensure that people can get the prescriptions they need, at prices they can afford. Through our extensive exemption arrangements, 86 per cent of prescription items are dispensed free, with another 5 per cent dispensed to people with prepayment certificates at no additional charge."
Around fifty per cent of the population are entitled to free prescriptions, including the over-sixties, under-sixteens and those on benefits such as Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.
The government also plans to help those on low incomes with complex sight problems with the cost of glasses or contact lenses by raising the value of optical voucher values by 2.5%.
The Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley was reported as saying: "From the government that brought you the promise of free healthcare and accused the Conservatives of wanting to introduce charges, comes this announcement of higher NHS charges."
(KMcA/SP)
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13 March 2006
Prescription charges to increase by 15p
The cost of an NHS prescription will rise by 15p to £6.65 for a single prescription item from the start of April. The cost of prescription pre-payment certificates will also increase, rising by 75p to £34.65 for four months and by £2.10 to £95.30 for 12 months.
Prescription charges to increase by 15p
The cost of an NHS prescription will rise by 15p to £6.65 for a single prescription item from the start of April. The cost of prescription pre-payment certificates will also increase, rising by 75p to £34.65 for four months and by £2.10 to £95.30 for 12 months.
01 March 2013
Prescriptions Prices To Rise In England
Prescription charges in England will rise by 20p from April 1, bring the cost to £7.85, the government has announced. The British Medical Association has however called the charges “unfair”, and called for prescription to be free, as the are in the rest of the UK.
Prescriptions Prices To Rise In England
Prescription charges in England will rise by 20p from April 1, bring the cost to £7.85, the government has announced. The British Medical Association has however called the charges “unfair”, and called for prescription to be free, as the are in the rest of the UK.
12 March 2014
Prescription Charges To Rise In England
The price of the National Health Service (NHS) prescriptions and dental treatments is to increase in England according to the Health Minister, Norman Lamb. Mr Lamb said the increases were justified because there are more demands and the spending on medicines alone is the double of 2000.
Prescription Charges To Rise In England
The price of the National Health Service (NHS) prescriptions and dental treatments is to increase in England according to the Health Minister, Norman Lamb. Mr Lamb said the increases were justified because there are more demands and the spending on medicines alone is the double of 2000.
20 January 2009
Cancer Patients Urged To Apply For Free Prescriptions From Today
People being treated for cancer will be eligible for free prescriptions from 1st April and can apply for free prescriptions from today. The new scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in September last year, abolishes NHS prescription charges for everyone undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment.
Cancer Patients Urged To Apply For Free Prescriptions From Today
People being treated for cancer will be eligible for free prescriptions from 1st April and can apply for free prescriptions from today. The new scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in September last year, abolishes NHS prescription charges for everyone undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment.
20 June 2014
NI To Reintroduce Prescription Charges
Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots has announced on Twitter on Thursday his department is considering reintroducing prescription charges of up to £25 a year per person to pay for a cancer drugs fund.
NI To Reintroduce Prescription Charges
Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots has announced on Twitter on Thursday his department is considering reintroducing prescription charges of up to £25 a year per person to pay for a cancer drugs fund.
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