Everyone aged 60 and over will continue to receive free prescriptions, the government has confirmed today. The announcement comes in response to a consultation launched by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2021 looking at whether the age free prescriptions become available should be aligned with the state pension age, which is currently 66.
However it has now said this will not happen. It said this was after it took a number of factors into account including current cost of living and increased medical needs due to an ageing population.
The u-turn comes following a backlash into the proposal at a time when many are struggling financially. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said that due to the cost-of-living, there has been a rise in patients asking pharmacists "what medications they can do without".
One in two pharmacists have seen a rise in people not collecting their prescription, data from the RPS showed. England remains the only country in the UK to still charge for prescription drugs with the charge scrapped for those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Minister for Health Neil O’Brien said: "This government recognises the pressures with the cost of living caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That’s why we are providing cost of living help worth £3,300 on average per household over last year and this, among the most generous help anywhere in Europe.
"It’s also why we have decided to maintain the prescription exemption age where it is. Nine out of 10 prescriptions are already free at the point of use and on top of that we also provide financial help to others on low incomes who don’t automatically get prescriptions for free."
Prescription charge exemptions will also remain in place for those aged under 16 or aged 17 and 18 but in full time education while those in receipt of certain benefits can also receive free prescriptions. People on a low income who do not qualify for an automatic exemption can also seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme.
For those who do not qualify for an exemption or the NHS Low Income Scheme, prepayment certificates (PPC) are available to help with frequent prescriptions should they be required. The annual PPC can be paid for through 10 instalments. This means people can have as many prescription items as needed for just over £2 per week.
