Help from the NHS

Although most NHS treatments are free, there are still some costs people might need to pay for, such as prescription charges or travel costs to attend a hospital appointment.

Support is available, depending on a person’s circumstances.

Fill in this three-minute online form to check if you’re eligible for help with NHS costs such as prescription charges, travel or dental treatment.

You do not have to be claiming benefits to apply for NHS support. If you’re employed with a low income, you may also be eligible for help.

Household income will be considered, as well as council tax and housing costs.

Any help received also covers partners and children under 19.

Get help paying for:

• NHS prescriptions
• NHS dental treatment
• Sight tests, new glasses or contact lenses
• Repairing or replacing your glasses or contact lenses
• NHS wigs and fabric supports
• Travel for NHS treatment

Apply online for help with NHS costs.

• Applications take about 20 minutes to complete
• Answer personalised questions based on your circumstances
• Get instant confirmation that we’ve received your application
• Get a reference number to use if you have any queries.

Certain benefits or tax credits already entitle people to full help with health costs. You do not need to apply if you or your partner:

• Get Income Support
• Get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Get income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Are named on, or entitled to, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate – if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice; you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both) and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• Get Universal Credit and meet the criteria.

If you pay for your prescriptions, you could save money by buying an NHS Prescription Pre-payment Certificate.

You can pay a set price for prescriptions for 3 or 12 months, no matter how many prescriptions you need, or what your financial circumstances are.

A single prescription costs £9.35 per item, but prepaying for an unlimited number of prescriptions is:

• £30.25 for 3 months
• £108.10 for 12 months (or 10 Direct Debit instalments of £10.81)

Find out how it works and buy your pre-payment certificate here.

Getting the COVID-19 booster and the flu vaccination if you are eligible, is one of the single best things that people can do help keep themselves well and support the NHS this winter

Those eligible for both vaccinations include anyone age 50+, pregnant women, and people with long-term conditions. In addition, children aged 2-3, and most school-aged children are being invited to have a nasal flu vaccination this winter.

Speak to your GP practice about getting vaccinated, call 119 or book online to find your nearest clinic.

Care at the Chemist

This is a NHS scheme available across all community pharmacies in Knowsley, which enables patients to get treatment for certain minor conditions without needing to see or contact their GP for a prescription first.

Treatment under Care at the Chemist is fast, convenient, and medicines are free for anyone who does not pay for their prescriptions. Those who do pay will only pay for what the item costs or a standard prescription fee (whichever is lower).

Some of the symptoms currently covered under Care at the Chemist include treatment for sore throats, urinary infections, eye infections, minor skin conditions and thrush – plus many more.

Social prescribing teams – also known as ‘link workers’ – can help support patients to deal with non-medical issues that can impact on their physical or mental health, such as money problems, coping with a cancer diagnosis, dealing with grief, or loneliness and social isolation.

They can work with individuals to help them create a personalised wellbeing plan and link them to local resources, groups and activities that they can access in their own community, which can help support their health and wellbeing.

Ask your GP practice to refer you to a social prescribing link worker.

The NHS in Knowsley have worked together with clinicians to provide residents with a platform that gives unlimited access to thousands of FREE health-approved apps that can help patients combat smoking, deal with anxiety, sleep better, get fit and live well.

Our library only contains apps that manage data privacy safely and have been developed with health and care professionals, so we can be sure that the ones we recommend to you meet safety standards. Visit the platform and start downloading today.