Hi there, I did an OCR accredited Access to Healthcare course last year after being out of education for 12 years, and I would strongly recommend it for any adult learner looking to get into University.
As well as learning the academic subjects necessary for University entry, you'll also cover skills such as researching, referencing, portfolio building and time management, all of which will be extremely useful at University.
I can't remember exactly how much it cost, I'm afraid. It was in the hundreds, but worth every penny! There are various grants available to adult learners (check out the direct.gov website for details), so you may find that you can get help with the costs.
Before committing yourself to a particular Access course, I'd recommend you contact the universities you're interested in attending and check that the Access will satisfy their entry requirements.
Above all, I'd say go for it! It's the best thing I ever did, and I'm looking forward to starting my degree in May. Good luck!