NHS prescription charges in England are to be frozen as pressure mounts on ministers to ease the cost of living crisis following the recent Tory bruising at the polls.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the levy, which normally rises in line with inflation, will be held at the same level this year to “put money back in people’s pockets”.
The freeze, which is the first in 12 years, will save patients £17m, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.
It means the charge for a single prescription will stay at £9.35, while a three-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) remains at £30.25.
A 12-month PPC will stay at £108.10 and can be paid for in instalments.
Mr Javid said: “The rise in the cost of living has been unavoidable as we face global challenges and the repercussions of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.
“Whilst we can’t completely prevent these rises, where we can help we absolutely will.
“This is why I am freezing prescription charges to…
