I genuinely don't understand..

[scrappydappydoo]

So news today says that prescription charges in England are going up to £7.40 (gulp). I don't understand why we in England pay for prescriptions whereas they are free in scotland and wales. Can someone explain in simple terms please?

Scotland and Wales have devolved power.

btw, they are not free in scotland yet, but are being gradually reduced in price.

Scotland and Wales are devolved so they can make different spending decisions in certain areas.

NHS budgets are devolved in those countries: so they are given their share of the money and can organise themselves how they want to - and they tend to keep quite true to the spirit of the NHS as it was begun in 1948. Also they think it's a votewinner.

Ah sorry thought they were free in scotland.

So what is the equivalent in England - what do scotland & wales pay for that we don't? Really confused how all these cuts are being made and yet surely free/discounted prescriptions are a massive drain on teh money pot or is it just vote winning stuff?

semi x posts thanks ooid

Smaller populations, much more rural (cities cost money) - and vote winning.

Also both countries have politicians who aren't necessarily career politicians and are really more socialist at heart (imperfect but trying).

Thanks [considers moving]

I had my dfil staying at Christmas (I am in Belgium) and had to pay for a prescription of Aricept for him. 140 euros later I had it. I think £7.40 isn't so bad when you consider what the drugs really cost.

Yeah I know - I do actually feel very privilaged to have access to the nhs and have had nothing but good care from it but it appears that despite having access to the 'same' nhs people in wales and scotland are benefiting more especially when everyone is being constantly told that cuts have to be made. (and its not fair - stamps foot and throws teddy from cot)

scotland and wales are so massively heavily subsidised by people in england that they can afford free prescriptions. and in the case of scotland, free university education.

obviously we pay them too much.

The different countries just spend their money differently.

There are many things which people are entitled to in England which we aren't in Wales.

For example when I studied with the Open University I would have been entitled to funding in England despite already having a degree as it was in order to re-train for a career change. As I lived in Wales I wasn't entitled to funding and had to pay all of the fees myself.

Swings and roundabouts really.

Exactly. People talk about local government and not wanting everything centralised, but the reality of that is that different local systems will make different decisions about money, so some stuff will always seem unfair.

Children start school younger in Wales as well - aah, the fortune I'd save on childcare in the next couple of years if I lived there!

That's interesting thanks Jemima - its good to know it balances it out somewhere :)

but you wouldn't be now jemima
and that has been the case for some years now
so not really comparable

if london and the south east's taxes weren't sent to scot and wales in such quantity then they wouldn't be able to do these things and perhaps the uk as a whole would have a slightly smaller deficit

hey ho

Devolution of power to assembly/parliament in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ensures difference in policy between different nations. Although the fact is that spending per capita in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is higher than in England despite England generating more tax revenue per person so there is subsidisation by the english.

This was only about 3 years ago, so fairly recently freshmint.

Also have a look at this

Education spending per child is £600 higher in England than Wales. Still complaining about that £7 prescription?