Starmer freezes prescription charges in England days before the local elections

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced prescription charges in the UK will be frozen for the first time in three years and will stay at £9.90 per item.

A three-month prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) will remain at £32.05 and a 12-month PPC will stay at £114.50.

Patients will save around £18 million in 2026 and Starmer announced the freeze during a visit to a health centre in Lancashire.

The Prime Minister said, “Today we are freezing prescription charges so that means they won’t go over £10 and that is really significant, because very many people have to pay for prescriptions.

“There’s a sort of cost-of-living crisis that is still very challenging for people, so this is an important measure in that.

“It’s not the only measure of course – we are taking steps on school uniforms to limit the cost of school uniforms, we’re driving up the minimum wage, we’ve got breakfast clubs coming on stream, that’s something we announced last week, which will save families about £450.

“Each of these, in their incremental way, will ease the pressure that people feel because of the cost-of-living crisis.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This Government’s plan for change will always put working people first and our moves today to freeze prescription charges will put money back into the pockets of millions of patients.

“Fixing our NHS will be a long road – but by working closer with our pharmacies we’re saving money and shifting care to the community where it’s closer to your home.

“We made the difficult but necessary choices at the budget to fund moves like this and change our NHS so it can once again be there for you when you need it.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “We promised to build an NHS fit for the future and that started with the £26 billion funding boost I delivered at the budget, to repair and improve the many vital services it provides.

“Since then, waiting lists are falling, staff are better paid and supported, and today £18 million has been kept in patient’s pockets by freezing prescription charges – easing the cost of living through our plan for change, delivering for all.”