Another useful source of information is The Department of Health Site . For most medications this is less than the medicine would cost to buy. Children, people over 60, pregnant women, and all students under the age of 19 are exempt from prescription charges. So are people whose income and savings fall below a certain level. If you need medication for diabetes, epilepsy and certain other conditions you can get your prescriptions free.
Contraceptive pills are also free.
Certain drugs cannot be issued on prescription and should be bought. This includes vitamin tablets, other than for treatment of proven deficiencies, and most cough medicines. If no such agreement exists you will have to pay. You are therefore encouraged to find out before travelling to Oxford whether you need to be insured. For details click here.