Mar 2009 09

The NHS in another blow to the English taxpayer’s wallets4

While the Treasury attempts to kick-start the British economy with interest rate cuts and quantitative easing to the tune of £75 billion, last week the Department of Health revealed plans to raise the cost of NHS prescriptions in England to £7.20 from April, while cancer patients would now be exempt from the charge. Health minster, Dawn Primarolo stated that this rise would bring in a ‘valuable’ £437 million in 2009/1.

The NHS budget for 2007/8 currently stands at £96 billion; in comparison, £437 million is a tiny fraction. This money could easily be rescued from the NHS dustbin by halting outrageous waste on huge increases on higher salaries, meaningless 5-a-day coordinators and the failing £12.7 billion Connecting For Health IT system for example.

At a time when household budgets are already stretched, it is unfair and unreasonable for the government to increase a ‘tax on the sick’. While only 10% of prescriptions come under the charge, this may prove enough of a disincentive for struggling families to reject the prescription, become increasingly unwell and consequently end up costing the NHS more in the long run. Similarly, these exemptions do not support the increasing number of families who sit just above the prescription exemption.

In further insult to the English taxpayer, counterparts in Wales saw prescription fees scrapped by the Welsh Assembly in 2007. Likewise, Northern Ireland prescription costs were reduced to £3 in January and are due to be abolished by 2010, while Scotland are to see their costs reduced to £3 in April in an attempt to phase out the charge by 2011.

Not only does it seem imbalanced that the rest of the British Isles will have free prescriptions in only 2 years, this has also come at cost to the English taxpayer. In December 2006, “the Scottish Government announced it would set aside £97m to abolish prescription charges. Once the charges have gone, the policy is expected to cost £57m a year.” The Scottish Parliament intend to fund this deficit through the £30 billion block grant that Scotland receives under the Barnett formula. The Barnett formula was introduced in 1978 as a temporary measure to redress the slower growth in the region. It seeks to ensure Scotland receives a proportion of all new public spending in England. Thirty years on, and despite a falling allocation, public service spending was £1, 644 higher in Scotland in 2007/8 than England. The Barnett formula also applies to Wales and Northern Ireland where gaps in an increase in spending in 2007/8 were £1,042 and £2,254 respectively.

In order to redress this balance, it is essential that the government reform the outdated Barnett Formula to the benefit of the English taxpayer, who has long suffered as a result of errors in judgment and budget brought about by devolution, starting with the abolishment of NHS prescription charges. British taxpayers already pay vast sums of tax to fund a wasteful health service, piling more charges on top of that big bill isn’t remotely fair.

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  • Steve

    I have to say that I was originally opposed to any form of charge for prescriptions back in the 80s, but subsequently changed my mind when I saw how some people abused the system by having piles and piles of free drugs littering up their bathroom cabinets simply because they were free.
    Therefore I’m not opposed to the NHS charging for drugs – it makes people think twice before purchasing them. What I am totally opposed to is the cosy cartel that exists between the drug manufacturers and drug buyers (The NHS). The sooner this particular sleazy cartel is dragged out in front of public scrutiny, the better.

  • Home Rule for England

    Join the Campaign for an English Parliament and help restore representitve democracy to England!
    Politicians need to be responsible to the electorate of England. They should not be able to hide behind the haze and confusion they have created of different rules for England and the rest of the UK.
    http://www.thecep.org.uk

  • Maria

    The UK Government discriminates against every person resident in England on two different levels – financial and democratic.

  • Mr A.D.Dagger

    As a member of the 10% (actually i thought it was 11%) I object strongly to being charged for the drugs i need. So strongly, i pay for only one of the three i’m prescribed, i don’t bother with the others.
    The only way to fairness and equality is an English Parliament. Speak up and support it.