Prescription charge
What it really means
In England you pay a fixed fee per item on an NHS prescription, whatever the medicine costs. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have no charge. Check the NHS website for the current amount and exemptions.
Context, tips & common mistakes
The per-item charge in England changes most Aprils, so check the current figure on the NHS site rather than trusting an old blog post. Two traps catch newcomers. First, the charge is per item, so three medicines cost three charges — if you regularly need more than one or two items a month, a prepayment certificate (PPC) usually saves money and can be bought online in minutes. Second, ticking an exemption box you are not actually entitled to (for example assuming students or visa holders are exempt — they are not, by default) can trigger a penalty charge notice of up to £100 on top of the original charge, because claims are checked against records afterwards. If you receive one and believe it is wrong, respond by the deadline rather than ignoring it. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and contraception is free everywhere in the UK.