Prescription Charges and Exemptions

In England, prescriptions are charged per item. As of 1st April 2012 each item costs:

• England - £7.65

Prescription charges in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

NHS prescription charges were abolished in Wales from 1st April 2007, 1st April 2010 for Northern Ireland and 1st April 2011 for Scotland. All prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free, even for patients visiting from England, Wales or Scotland.

You are entitled to free prescriptions in Wales if you are:

• a patient registered with a Welsh GP and you receive your prescription from a Welsh pharmacy
• a Welsh patient who has an English GP and an entitlement card and you receive your prescriptions from a Welsh pharmacy

You are entitled to free prescriptions in Scotland if you are:

• a patient registered with a Scottish GP and you receive your prescription from a Scottish pharmacy
• a Scottish patient who has an English GP and an entitlement card and you receive your prescriptions from a Scottish pharmacy

Pre-Payment Certificates

If you are not entitled to free prescriptions and have ongoing repeat prescriptions, a Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC) may save you money, especially if you have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months or more than 14 items in 12 months.

PPCs in England

A 3-month PPC costs £29.10 and a 12-month PPC costs £104.00.

You can purchase a PPC:

• online at https://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/ppcdd/patient.do
• by phoning 0845 850 0030
• from selected pharmacies, including Boots - ask your pharmacist for more information

For information about managing your repeat prescriptions easily and conveniently with Boots, click here to find out about the Boots online Repeat Prescription service.

Prescription exemptions in England

Many people are exempt from paying prescription charges. To qualify for free prescriptions you must be:

• under 16
• 16 to 18 and in full-time education
• 60 or over
• pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and hold a valid exemption certificate
• have a specified medical condition and hold a valid exemption certificate
• have a continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without help from another person and hold a valid exemption certificate

You will also be exempt from prescription charges if:

• you or your partner receive:


• income support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
• you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• you are named on a valid HC2 certificate
• you are a war pensioner, the prescription is for your accepted disablement and you have a valid war pension exemption certificate

There are also some situations in which medicines are supplied free:

• prescribed contraceptive
• medication administered at a hospital or an NHS Walk-in Centre
• medication personally administered by a GP
• medication supplied at a hospital or PCT clinic for the treatment of a sexually transmissible infection

Your Local Boots pharmacy team will be happy to tell you about exemptions.

Online Pharmacy Prescriptions

Please note that our online pharmacy service is based in England, so English prices and rules apply if you choose the postal delivery option.

Veterinary Presciptions

Please note that prices quoted on our website are for prescriptions for humans. Private prescriptions for animals are not exempt from VAT so we are unable to provide you with a price online.

If you wish to obtain a price for a private prescription for an animal then please speak to our Pharmacy Direct team on 0845 1219040.