Cancer patients to be exempt from prescription charges

From April 1st, cancer patients will be exempt from prescription charges, the Department of Health (DoH) has announced.

The move could benefit up to 150,000 sufferers who have already been diagnosed with the illness and potentially save each one of them around £100 a year that they might otherwise spend on medication.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo explained in England, around 89 per cent of prescriptions are dispensed for free, adding the further 11 per cent provides “valuable income to the NHS”.

In the summer, recommendations will be made about how the exemption could be extended to those with other long-term conditions, she concluded.

Further changes that will come into force from the same date include a ten pence increase in the cost of prescriptions.

There will also be a two per cent increase in the value of optical vouchers, which are intended to help with the costs of eye care for children, those on low incomes and people with complicated vision impairments.

In the build up to No Smoking Day, the DoH is advising nicotine addicts that stubbing out the cigarettes for good could save them £2,000 a year.