Free prescription charges for those who can afford to pay are a drain on public resources

Tomorrow (Thursday 18th November 2010), Scottish Conservatives are giving the other parties another chance to see sense and vote against universal free prescriptions for those who can afford to pay.

Derek Brownlee MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, said:

"Scottish Conservatives are clear on this issue – giving free prescriptions to those people who can well afford to pay for them is politically irresponsible and a drain on public resources at this time of huge financial challenges in the NHS.

"The SNP are stubbornly digging their heels in and Scottish Labour appear unwilling to take any decisive action, for fear it would prove unpopular with some. Unfortunately, it is an absolute necessity in order to deal with Labour's debt legacy.

"The young, the elderly and those on benefits are all already exempt. Using millions of Scotland's health budget to reduce the cost of prescriptions to zero by next year means it cannot be spent elsewhere. The 50% of people who are exempt from prescription charges account for 92% of all prescriptions.

"Once again the Conservatives have led the way in the Scottish Parliament. Labour needs to show some guts for a change and behave responsibly. Both Labour and the SNP are failing to face up to financial reality. In these difficult economic times we have to make tough decisions and prioritise what we need most. Free prescriptions for people who can afford them are not a priority and all parties should be able to see that."

1) Below is the text of Derek Brownlee's motion for tomorrow's debate

That the Parliament notes the financial pressures on the NHS and that the Independent Budget Review established by the Scottish Government has estimated that the full abolition of prescription charges would remove a further £25 million of income each year from the NHS, and accordingly calls on the Scottish Government to reconsider its position on prescription charges.

2) £25million per year would pay for:

Approximately 531,250 sight tests[1]Approximately 250,000 attendances to A&E[2]Approximately 107,758 MRI scans[3]Approximately 3072 admissions to intensive care[4]A 29% percent increase in GP out of hours service[5]A 63% percent increase in the community midwifery budget[6]

[1] Currently £85m is spent on 1.7m sight tests (ISD Scotland, Cost Book, 2009)

[2] Attendance at A&E costs £100 per patient (ISD Scotland, Cost Book, 2009)

[3] An MRI scan costs £232 per patient (ISD Scotland, Cost Book, 2009)

[4] Per patient admission to intensive care costs £8,137 (ISD Scotland, Cost Book, 2009)

[5] £85m per year is spent on GP out of hour services (ISD Scotland, Cost Book, 2009)

[6] £40m per year is spent on community midwifery (ISD Scotland, Cost Book, 2009)

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