What an NHS prescription, a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) and each dental band cost in England, when each
figure took effect, when a PPC pays for itself and who pays nothing. Read from the Regulations and the NHS website on 22 October 2026.
Prescription, per item
£9.90
Since 1 May 2024, up from £9.65
12-month PPC
£114.50
Worth it above 11 items a year
Dental Band 1
£27.90
From 1 April 2026, up from £27.40
Dental Band 3
£332.10
From 1 April 2026, up from £326.70
NHS prescription charge in England
The charge is £9.90 for each item, not each prescription, so a prescription with 3 medicines on it costs the
charge 3 times. It was set by S.I. 2024/456, in force from 1 May 2024, replacing £9.65. The
Regulations show no amendment since, so the charge and the PPC prices below were not changed for 2025/26 or 2026/27.
Prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) prices
Certificate
Price
Saves money if you need
3-month PPC
£32.05
More than 3 items in 3 months
12-month PPC
£114.50
More than 11 items in a year
12-month PPC by direct debit
10 payments of £11.45 (£114.50)
The same as the 12-month PPC
HRT PPC (12 months)
£19.80
More than 2 qualifying HRT items in a year
Each break-even point is the PPC price divided by the £9.90 item charge, rounded down: at that many items or
fewer you pay the same or less buying items one by one, and the next item makes the PPC cheaper. Four 3-month certificates
in a row cost £128.20, so if you will need cover all year the 12-month PPC is £13.70 cheaper.
A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, but not wigs and fabric supports. It starts the
day you apply unless you ask for a start date within 1 month before or after.
NHS dental charges in England
Dental charges are reset each 1 April by an amending statutory instrument. The current charges took effect on 1 April 2026
(S.I. 2026/265). If you need a mix of treatments from different bands you pay the highest band only, and
treatments in the same band are charged once. Urgent treatment costs the Band 1 charge.
From
Band 1 and urgent
Band 2
Band 3
Set by
1 April 2026 (current)
£27.90
£76.60
£332.10
S.I. 2026/265
1 April 2025
£27.40
£75.30
£326.70
S.I. 2025/310
1 April 2024
£26.80
£73.50
£319.10
S.I. 2024/271
The latest rise was +£0.50 on Band 1, +£1.30 on Band 2 and +£5.40 on Band 3.
Band 1 covers a routine examination, X-rays if clinically needed, fluoride and simple scaling. Band 2 adds fillings, root canal
treatment and extractions. Band 3 adds crowns, dentures, bridges and orthodontics. These charges apply in England only.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Prescriptions are free in the other three nations. A pharmacist in Scotland makes no charge for a Scottish prescription
form; anyone registered with a GP in Wales gets free prescriptions from a pharmacist in Wales; and all prescriptions dispensed
in Northern Ireland are free for everyone. The charges on this page are for England.
Who pays nothing
Who
Prescriptions
By age
Under 16, under 19 and in full-time education, or aged 60 or over.
Maternity exemption certificate
Expecting a child, or given birth in the last twelve months.
Medical exemption certificate
Listed conditions, including diabetes mellitus (unless treated by diet alone), epilepsy needing continuous anti-convulsive therapy and a permanent fistula, and treatment for cancer, its effects or the effects of its treatment.
A valid PPC
No charge on items the certificate covers (an HRT PPC covers listed HRT items only).
Benefits and low income
Help depends on your age, income, where you live, whether you get certain benefits, pregnancy and medical conditions. Check on the NHS website before you pay.
Free NHS dental treatment in England is separate: under 18s (or under 19 in full-time education), people who are pregnant
or had a baby in the last 12 months, and people who, or whose partner, get income-related Employment and Support Allowance,
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Universal Credit below a set income. See
Pension Credit,
Universal Credit rates and
ESA rates.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an NHS prescription in England?
£9.90 for each item, in force since 1 May 2024 (up from £9.65). The charge is for each item, not each prescription: a prescription with 3 medicines on it costs the charge 3 times.
Did the prescription charge go up in 2026?
No. The Regulations show no change to the charge or the PPC prices after 1 May 2024, so they were the same in 2025/26 and 2026/27. Dental charges did rise, on 1 April 2026.
How much is a prescription prepayment certificate?
A 3-month PPC costs £32.05 and a 12-month PPC costs £114.50, or 10 monthly direct debit instalments of £11.45. The HRT PPC costs £19.80 for 12 months.
When is a PPC worth buying?
The 12-month PPC saves money if you need more than 11 items in a year, the 3-month PPC if you need more than 3 items in 3 months, and the HRT PPC if you need more than 2 qualifying HRT items in a year. A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions.
Are prescriptions free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. A pharmacist in Scotland makes no charge for a Scottish prescription form, anyone registered with a GP in Wales gets free prescriptions from a pharmacist in Wales, and all prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free for everyone. The England charge applies to prescriptions issued in England.
Who gets free prescriptions in England?
People under 16, people under 19 in full-time education, people aged 60 or over, and people with a valid maternity or medical exemption certificate (including for cancer treatment). Some benefits and the NHS Low Income Scheme also qualify. Check what help you could get on the NHS website before you pay.
How much is an NHS dental check-up?
A routine check-up is a Band 1 course of treatment: £27.90 from 1 April 2026, up from £27.40. Band 1 also covers X-rays, scaling if clinically needed, and fluoride.
What do NHS dental Band 2 and Band 3 cover?
Band 2 (£76.60) covers fillings, root canal treatment and extractions as well as everything in Band 1. Band 3 (£332.10) covers crowns, dentures, bridges and orthodontics as well as Bands 1 and 2. If you need a mix, you pay the highest band only, once.
How much is urgent NHS dental treatment?
£27.90, the same as Band 1.
Who gets free NHS dental treatment?
In England: under 18s (or under 19 in full-time education), people who are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, hospital dental patients treated by a hospital dentist (not dentures or bridges), and people who, or whose partner, get income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Universal Credit with income below a set level.
Charges read from legislation.gov.uk, nhs.uk and the devolved governments' pages on 22 October 2026. Buy a PPC and check your
exemption on the NHS Business Services Authority website.
