From 1 April, women prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) will be able to access to a year’s worth of menopause prescription items for the cost of two single prescription charges (currently £18.70).

Under a new HRT PPC scheme, for one year, there will be no limit to the HRT items or how many times a valid certificate can be used.

Women will need to apply for the PPC through the NHS Business Service Authority or in person at a pharmacy registered to sell PPCs for use on or after 1 April. Women holding the HRT PPC should complete the exemption declaration on the NHS prescription form.

For people who need multiple medicines, the existing PPCs may remain a more cost effective method of paying for prescriptions.

A service assessment of the plan to introduce an HRT PPC has highlighted the weaknesses of this initiative, including the need to widen the scope of the service entry points, and to facilitate wider user engagement with the service.