Prescription and dental charges to rise
The Department of Health has announced that prescription costs and dental charges are to be increased in England from 1st April.
Prescription charges
The cost of prescribed medicines will increase 15p from £8.05 to £8.20.
However, the cost of a prescription prepayment certificate – which allows you to pay for long-term medication – has been frozen. A three-month certificate costs £29.10, while an annual certificate will set you back £104.
Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Dental charges
As for dental charges, the cost of a band one course of treatment, which includes an examination, will jump from £18.50 to £18.80
Meanwhile, the cost of a band two course of treatment, such as fillings and root canal treatment, will rise 80p to £51.30 from £50.50. Finally, the cost of a band three course of treatment, such as crowns and dentures, will increase by £3.50 from £219 to £222.50.
Wigs and fabric charges are going up too
Charges for wigs and fabric supports are also being increased by 1.6%.
As a result a surgical brassiere will set you back £27.45, an abdominal or spinal support will cost £41.50, a stock modacrylic wig will cost £67.75, a partial human hair wig will cost £179.45 and a full, bespoke human hair wig will set you back £262.45.
Vouchers
In more positive news, the value of NHS optical vouchers (which are available to children, people on low incomes and those with complex sight problems) are being increased by 1%.
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