NHS prescription fee frozen as Tories fight desperate for cost of living aid

This will be the first time in 12 years that the cost of medicines has not risen in line with inflation, saving around 58p on every item prescribed

The NHS prescription fee will be frozen at £9.35 this year as the Tories desperate for new measures to deal with the cost of living crisis.

This is the first time in 12 years that the cost of medicines has not risen in line with inflation, saving around 58p for each item prescribed.

Health Minister Sajid Javid said: “The increase in the cost of living was inevitable. While we can’t completely prevent these increases, we can help.

“So I’m freezing prescription fees to ease some of those burdens and put money back in people’s pockets.”

He said the move will save those paying a total of £17million for prescriptions.

3-month prepayment certificates of £30.25 and 12-month PPCs of £108.10 are also unchanged.

They mean people can get all the medicine they need for just over £2 a week.

Retirees, new moms, students, recipients of government benefits, or residents of nursing homes get their prescriptions for free.