Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2023 to Question 180335, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the increased prescription charge from 1 April 2023 on people with (a) cystic fibrosis and (b) other long-term conditions.

There are no current plans to make an assessment and no specific assessment has been made on the impact of prescription charges. Approximately 89% of prescription items are currently dispensed free of charge and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with long term conditions may meet the eligibility criteria and be in receipt of free prescriptions.

In addition, those on a low income can apply for additional support through the NHS Low Income Scheme. This provides both full and partial help with a range of health costs, not just prescription charges. Those who do not qualify for low-income help may benefit from the purchase of a prescription pre-payment certificate. This caps the cost of prescriptions at £111.60 per year, helping people to get all the medicines they need for just over £2 a week.