egafd.com

"I'm aware of why people in Scotland, NI and Wales do not pay charges and why we in England do."

Fair play. I just wasn't sure from reading your post. Apologies if my post came over as condescending.

I'm relatively young, so prescription charges were the norm until recently during my time....and I agree (if that's what you are implying) that the NHS should be free for all.

We don't really have one NHS in the UK. We have four different National Health Services, which operate under shared overall principles and ideology (....until Lansley gets his bill into operation, of course..)

alicia_fan_uk

alicia_fan_uk

No problem, I'm turning into a grumpy old man.

You're right, about Lansley's plans.

240 Clinical Commissioning Groups!

That will mean 240 different National Health Services in England!

My understanding is that the new Bill only applies to England again.

You can understand the Scots, Welsh and N Irish not wanting anything to do with it can't you?

I have never really understood this, if you live in England and go to the Doc's and he says you are fine but you have a cold and all you need is to take some paracetamols, he then tells you I can write you a prescription which will cost you ?7.65 or you can buy your own for say ?2.00 saving you ?5.65. Now in Scotland it will cost nothing not even ?2.00, so people would always be better off running to the GP for everything is free, which is going to put an even bigger burden on the already over stretched budget,

I think as a tax payer I like the '?7.65 prescription charge' as it seems good value, am I way off the mark in thinking this?

I don't think you are way off the mark at all.
I have to take a 75mg aspirin and a statin every day for the rest of my life, I'm 67, and I have been taking them since I was 55. So, I paid my prescription for many years and the medication added up to more than the prescription charge, so I was quids in so to speak. I think a statin is about ?1, so, 84 tablets ( a 3 month supply) was worth whatever the charge was until I reached exemption age.
Mind you, now I am 67 I am glad that the medication is free.
We hear and read of the terrible things that happen in the NHS, but, I will say that if anyone should find themselves in a situation that is dire or life threatening and taken to any A&E they will find excellent care and superb nursing in an IC unit. I did, and am gratefull that I was treated so well so that I made a complete recovery in a short period of time. My after care has bee just as good and I for one will never slag off the NHS. It's a pity that the media do not do some good articles on the NHS instead of criticising all the time.