Prescription charges were introduced in the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 1952, effective 1 June 1952, at a rate of one shilling per prescription form. From 1 December 1956, the rules were changed so that the charge applied to each item prescribed. On 1 March 1961, the charge was doubled to two shillings. Charges were abolished on 1 February 1965, then reintroduced on 10 June 1968 at the higher rate of 2/6, but with a wider range of exemptions.
Initially charges were paid in cash, but around 1960 stamp vending machines were installed in hospital dispensaries. The machines, made by Associated Automation (Hall Telephone Accessories became Associated Automation in 1956), dispensed rolls of 1,000 stamps which were printed by Harrison & Sons and had a script watermark of “Harrison & Sons, London”. Every fifth stamp bore a serial number starting with “005” and ending with “000” on the 1,000th stamp.
1960/61 issues:
June 1968 issue for the 2/6 rate with text in a narrow font:
On Decimal Day, 15 Feb 1971, 2/6 became 12½p – an amount not suited to vending machines. Payment could be made by cash or by postage stamps affixed to the reverse of the order form. The National Health Service (Charges) Regulations 1971, effective 1 Apr 1971, increased the charge to 20p, so six weeks later vending machines became viable again. The next increase was to 45p on 16 July 1979 and then to 70p on 1 Apr 1980:
Note that there was never a 50p rate. It is thought that the 50p stamp was issued so that the 70p rate could be made up as 50p+20p. Images of 2/6, 20p, 45p, 50p stamps are computer generated. Mike Bending reported discovery of a 70p stamp in The Revenue Journal in 2014.
To deal with frequent rate changes (the next was from 70p to £1.00 on 1 Dec 1980) the value of the stamp was expressed as ONE UNIT:
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Summary of Rates
| 1 June 1952 | 1/- |
| 1 Mar 1961 | 2/- |
| 1 Feb 1965 | 0 |
| 10 June 1968 | 2/6 |
| 15 Feb 1971 | 12½p |
| 1 Apr 1971 | 20p |
| 16 July 1979 | 45p |
| 1 Apr 1980 | 70p |
| 1 Dec 1980 | £1.00 |
| 1 Apr 1982 | £1.30 |
| 1 Apr 1983 | £1.40 |
| 1 Apr 1984 | £1.60 |
| 1 Apr 1985 | £2.00 |
As of 2026, the prescription charge is £9.90 per item.