The current prescription charge is £9.90 per item.
Information:
Prescription charges are for each item not each prescription. For example, if your prescription has 3 medicines on it you will have to pay the prescription charge 3 times.
Some items are always free, including contraception and medicines prescribed for hospital inpatients.
If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).
How long is a prescription valid for?
Most prescriptions are valid for 6 months from the date they are signed by a doctor or nurse.
Prescriptions for most controlled drugs, such as morphine, are valid for 28 days.
Page last reviewed: 23 November 2023
Next review due: 27 November 2026
