Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen at the current rate of £9.90 per item, marking one of his final policy announcements before stepping down, likely by mid-July. The move, championed by his supporters, is part of a broader effort to ease the cost of living crisis.
Prescription Charge Freeze Details
The freeze, first announced in April, ensures that the single prescription charge remains at £9.90, rather than increasing with inflation. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) will also remain unchanged: three-month PPCs at £32.05, 12-month PPCs at £114.50, and the hormone replacement therapy PPC at £19.80. This measure is expected to save patients around £18 million in 2025-26.
Wes Streeting, who served as Health Secretary under Starmer, confirmed the policy, stating: "Keir Starmer has announced that NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen for the first time in three years." He added that around 89% of prescription items in England are already dispensed free of charge to children, over-60s, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions. The freeze does not affect current exemptions, benefiting an estimated 40% of working-age adults who normally pay for prescriptions.
Starmer's Departure and Legacy
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to resign as Prime Minister by mid-July, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham widely tipped as a potential successor. Supporters have begun championing Starmer's policies, including the prescription freeze, new renters' rights, and workers' rights, as key achievements during what has been described as a challenging two-year premiership.
In his statement on the freeze, Starmer said: "In an uncertain and volatile world, it is my government's duty to protect the British people at home and abroad. I know the public are concerned about the conflict in Iran and what it means for them and their families. I want to reassure them that they have a government on their side, working with allies on de-escalation and bearing down on the cost of living."
Broader Cost of Living Measures
Streeting emphasized that the prescription charge freeze is part of wider government action to tackle the cost of living crisis. He noted: "The prescription charge freeze builds on wider government action to tackle the cost of living, including the roll-out of free breakfast clubs, expanded childcare through 300 new school-based nurseries, lowering the cost of school uniforms, and extending the fuel duty freeze—all aimed at easing financial pressures on families across the country."
As Starmer prepares to step down, his administration's focus on protecting household finances remains a central theme, with the prescription freeze offering tangible relief to millions of patients in England.
