The Government has introduced the higher age NHS prescription exemption can be frozen at 60 in England, sparking large reduction for weak older folks.

This comes after consultations right into a proposal to align the NHS prescription exemption consistent with state pension age, which is at the moment 66 and set to rise additional.

This would have meant many older Britons could possibly be ready for as much as six years longer for free prescriptions than earlier years.

The Government mentioned the choice to maintain the present NHS prescription exemption at 60 years outdated was as a consequence of value of dwelling pressures squeezing many older folks’s funds.

The Daily Express campaigned in opposition to altering the free prescription age from 60 to state pension age.

Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's English Pharmacy Board, instructed tis publication:"If you possibly can’t afford your medicines, you change into extra in poor health, which results in poor well being and costly and pointless hospital admissions.” 'Cruel change' to free NHS prescriptions age 'would be disaster'

Marilyn Ricketts was "vastly fearful" about the proposal, and said she would have had to pay over £100 a year for a PPC if the change went ahead, "out of an revenue that is none-existent". Free prescription age for over 60s: Woman on PIP shares 'huge worry'

Minister for Health Neil O’Brien mentioned: "This authorities recognises the pressures with the price of dwelling brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"That’s why we are providing cost of living help worth £3,300 on average per household over last year and this, among the most generous help anywhere in Europe.

"It’s additionally why we now have determined to take care of the prescription exemption age the place it's. Nine out of ten prescriptions are already free on the level of use and on prime of that we additionally present monetary assist to others on low incomes who don’t mechanically get prescriptions without cost."

The session launched by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2021 checked out whether or not free prescription age must be aligned with the state pension age, nevertheless after a lot deliberation, the Government determined in opposition to it.

Prescriptions in England value £9.65 every. For those that have to pay for repeat prescriptions every month, who don’t pay for a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC), this might change into a expensive burden, and put additional stress on older Britons.

This news will come as an enormous reduction for these aged 60 and over, nevertheless, they don't seem to be the one individuals who profit from free prescriptions.

For a full record of exemptions, folks can go to the NHS web site.

Helen Morrissey, head of retirement evaluation at Hargreaves Lansdown mentioned: “Today’s response will be greeted with huge relief by older people at risk of having to pay for their NHS prescriptions.

“These charges can really add up and if you need multiple items then it can put real pressure on budgets at a time when they are already squeezed. This leads to the risk that people don’t get the medications they sorely need, and this puts their health at risk.‌

“The initial consultation mentioned the reasoning behind potentially aligning the upper age exemption with state pension age was because it was initially set at age 60 which was women’s pension age at that time. We have also seen more older people remaining in the workforce for longer.

“However, since the consultation was announced back in 2021 the landscape has changed massively, and we are going through a cost-of-living crisis that has laid waste to our finances.

“We have also seen more people leaving the workplace early due to long-term sickness meaning many would simply be unable to pay for prescriptions at a time when they are needed. It is hugely positive that the government has listened to people’s concerns and opted against the change.”