Prescription cost up 25p in England

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Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo unveiled the 25p increase, which will take effect from April 1.

It comes just over a week after a Citizens Advice report found as many as 800,000 people in England failed to collect a prescription last year due to the cost.

The situation in England contrasts to that in Scotland and Wales, with patients in Wales getting free prescriptions.

In Scotland, prescription charges will be reduced to £5 from April and will be free from 2011.

Ms Primarolo said the latest increase for England was well below the rate of inflation, representing the 10th consecutive year that the increase has been held below or around that level.

She said: "In England, 88% of prescription items are free of charge thanks to our extensive exemption arrangements.

"Prescription charges are expected to raise £435 million in the next financial year - that's valuable income that can be ploughed back into the NHS."

NHS dental charges will also rise, with the basic level - such as an examination, advice and any necessary x-rays or scale and polish - going up by 30p to £16.20 from April 1.

The range of NHS optical vouchers available for children, people on low incomes, and those who need complex lenses, will increase by an average of 2.7%.