Today sees the start of a huge change in NHS regulations, as pharmacists warn of a ‘dark day’ for patients

Pharmacists have warned that today will be a ‘dark day’ for patients as the cost of an NHS prescription rises to almost £10.

They describe the increase from £9.65 to £9.90 on May 1 as a ‘tax on the working poor’ and fear people will miss out on medicines because of the price.

It comes as new figures show chemists are easing pressure on GPs by successfully treating nine in 10 patients seeking care under the new NHS Pharmacy First Scheme.

The Company Chemists’ Association, which represents major chemists such as Boots and Superdrug, says its members alone have carried out more than 90,000 consultations in the two months since its launch.

Of these, 88 percent were eligible for NHS-funded care through the service, freeing up appointments with GPs for those with more serious conditions.

The 12-month NHS Prepayment Certificate – which covers all NHS prescriptions for a fixed price – is also increasing today from £111.60 to £114.50.

Meanwhile, prescriptions remain free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Tase Oputu, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, said: ‘This is a dark day for patients who now have to pay almost £10 for each item on their prescription. ‘

Amid the cost of living crisis, the rise in prescription costs will hit low-income working people the hardest.

‘The continued annual increase in prescription costs makes medicines unaffordable for many. This is completely unacceptable.

‘You can, it seems, put a price on health.

‘Every day, pharmacists are asked by patients who cannot afford all the items in their prescription which ones they can ‘do without’.

“No one should face a financial barrier to getting the medications he or she needs to stay well.

‘Prescription charges should be abolished in England, just as they have been in the rest of Britain.’

Nick Kaye, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, said: ‘Allowing prescription costs to rise to this level is a shameful neglect of working people on low fixed incomes, who are not exempt.

‘Many people are already choosing not to collect some or all of their prescribed medicines due to the costs, with potentially serious health consequences.

“This is a tax on the working poor that worsens the cost of living crisis for them.”

Prescriptions are free for certain groups of people, including children, people over 60, pregnant women, people on certain benefits and people with certain medical conditions.

But the Coalition for Prescription Fees, an alliance of more than 50 organisations, has called for an urgent review of the list of prescription fee exemptions.

The coalition said the exemption list has remained relatively unchanged over the past 50 years and ignores many life-changing conditions such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, cystic fibrosis, HIV and asthma.

Laura Cockram, head of campaigns at Parkinson’s UK and chair of the coalition, said: ‘The rise in NHS prescription costs has terrified people with long-term health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.

‘People are already struggling financially due to the cost of living crisis, and increasing the cost of prescriptions will lead to more people missing, reducing or delaying their medication, meaning their condition will worsen.

‘There is limited financial support that charities can provide to compensate for government shortcomings.

‘That’s why we’re calling on the UK government to freeze costs in 2025 and commit to urgently reviewing the list of prescription fee exemptions.’

In the first month, more than 90 percent of eligible patients received the care they needed through Pharmacy First, without the need for further referrals, the CCA said.

And a medicine was dispensed in 75 per cent of consultations, the trade body added, showing that community pharmacies can often be the first point of contact for patients with one of the seven common conditions they are allowed to prescribe for.

These are: earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

Malcolm Harrison, CEO of the CCA, said: ‘The Pharmacy First service continues to show enormous promise, providing access to NHS care where and when patients need it.

‘While early signs are promising, we need targeted support for GPs to refer more patients to Pharmacy First and further high-quality and targeted engagement campaigns to raise wider public awareness.’

However, the Independent Pharmacies Association, which represents smaller businesses, says its members find the scheme time-consuming and warns it is leaving them underpaid.

About 72 percent of the 2,133 pharmacies surveyed reported that time spent on the service had “reduced their capacity to provide other pharmacy services and activities.”

Nearly half (44 percent) said consultations lasted an average of 20 minutes, while 10 percent said they lasted 30 minutes or more.

Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the IPA, said: ‘It is clear that pharmacies are behind this service to support the NHS, but more needs to be done to get Pharmacy First to the point where it is operating as it was intended.

‘Taking pharmacists away from their other work when they are already overburdened is a concern, as is the lack of funding.

‘If the government is not careful, Pharmacy First will only increase the pressure on beleaguered pharmacies and provoke further closures. An urgent reassessment is needed.’

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘Pharmacy First will give patients quick and easy access to support for common conditions through their regular pharmacy.

‘The NHS has run an extensive advertising campaign on TV, social media and in public spaces about the support patients can now get from their pharmacist.

‘You can also find out more by visiting the NHS website or speaking to your local pharmacist.’