MSPs vote to axe NHS prescription charges in Scotland

**Chris** · 02-03-2011, 15:13

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12612623

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

MSPs have voted to scrap NHS prescription charges in Scotland, a key SNP pledge in the 2007 elections. The Scottish government won the approval of Holyrood's health committee to remove the current Â£3 charge.

And you poor lot in England are paying Â£7.20 a go.

Osem · 02-03-2011, 15:16

Less money to spend on other stuff then. There'll be winners and losers as always.

haydnwalker · 02-03-2011, 15:33

My wife's lucky she's on a Medical Exemption from prescription charges... she has about 50quids worth of drugs every month!

Derek · 02-03-2011, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

And you poor lot in England are paying Â£7.20 a go.

Â£2.00 to subsidise the Welsh
Â£2.00 to subsidise the Scots
Â£3.20 to cover the costs of the drugs.

Taf · 02-03-2011, 16:26

I have seen it explained, several times, that free prescriptions SAVE money for the NHS as the administration of the Prescription Charge exceeds what they get back from charges. And it means no fiddlers need to be chased either!

Plus it was shown that the ammount received in charges is piffling compared to what is free already to children, chronically sick (eg diabetics), those on Income Support or pensioners.