Costs compared

What you pay in England versus the other three nations, and NHS versus private.

• 

  Costs compared

  What NHS treatment actually costs in 2026: prescriptions, dentistry and the four nations

  Prescription and dental charges in England for 2026/27, how they differ across the UK, and when a prepayment certificate pays for itself.

Planned for this topic

• NHS versus private diagnostics: what changes
• Choosing your hospital: how provider choice works
• Optical charges and NHS sight test entitlement
• Community pharmacy versus GP for common conditions