There is no denying that Britain is a most fortunate country in that we have a free National Health Service, so any British Citizen can be treated for free in any doctor's surgery or hospital.
But medicines have to be paid for. And Dawn Primarolo, Britain's Public Health Minister, said prescription charges will rise by 25 pence as from 1st April, making a total of cost of £7.10 per item, per prescription.
But that price rise is only applicable to England. In Wales, prescriptions remain totally free, and in Scotland, the charge is being cut to £5.00, and will be totally free of charges within 5 years.
NHS Dental charges will also rise, a basic examination will now cost £16.20. Scottish residents already have access to free eye care and check ups, free personal care for the elderly, extra central heating grants as well as a number of drugs deemed too costly for the Health Service in England and Wales.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has called for an urgent review of prescrription charges for the English.
Paul Bennet, of the Society's English pharmacy board, said: “We urgently need a review of the current system of prescription charges – they are both illogical and unfair.”
Doesn't seem right somehow, does it?
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