Martin Lewis' important advice to anyone who gets NHS prescriptions as prices to rise

The cost of an NHS prescription is set to go up again May 1, with the cost of a single prescription becoming almost a tenner at £9.90 per item. This could make life more expensive for some, but more than a million people each year could benefit from a simple way to cut the cost of repeat medicines.

Despite a lower-than-inflation rise of 2.5 per cent, many people collecting their prescriptions who have a fixed income will find the higher charges biting into their bank accounts - but there is a simple way to save money on your monthly medicines

You can purchase a 12-month or three-month prescription subscription, which means that, if you are prescribed more than one medicine per month, you can save a considerable amount of money. For example, patients prescribed two medicines per month who purchase a 12-month pre-payment certificate (PPC) would save as much as £123.10 in a year.

READ MORE: DWP issues £737 boost from TODAY to people with these 25 conditions

These savings only go up the more treatments that you are prescribed. Anyone prescribed three medicines per month for a year would save £241.90 in 12 months, while those on four medicines in the same period would save a huge £360.70 in annual prescription charges.

A three-month prepayment certificate will cost £32.05 from next month, while a 12-month prepayment certificate will cost £114.50. Both of these have also increased by 2.5 per cent, but are still a significant saving for many people with plenty of repeat prescriptions.

Not everyone has to pay for their prescriptions. All under 16s and anyone under 18 in full-time education gets their medicines entirely free, as does anyone receiving medicine in hospital.

This is also true for over-60s, pregnant women, and