Category Archives: Scotland
Prescription charge axe approved (Scotland)
2 March 2011 Last updated at 12:28
MSPs vote to axe NHS prescription charges in Scotland
MSPs have voted to scrap NHS prescription charges in Scotland, an SNP pledge in the 2007 elections.
The Scottish government won the approval of Holyrood’s health committee to remove the current £3 charge.
A last-ditch Conservative and Lib Dem move to block the plan failed.
The price paid by patients for prescription medicine has been reduced each year since 2008 and a final vote will see charges removed in April.
Labour supports the plan but the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats believe the cash could be better spent in other areas.
Scottish government health minister Shona Robison said lifting the charge would reduce the long-term cost to the health service and would no longer put people off going to see their doctor.
Wales and Northern Ireland have already removed NHS prescription charges, which cost £7.20 per item in England.
Cash break for parents of disabled in Scotland
Families with severely disabled children could benefit from an extra £2 million to fund short breaks.
The money is in addition to £5 million already allocated over five years, the Scottish Government said.
Public health minister Shona Robison said: “Parents looking after children with complex or exceptional needs have exceptionally tough demands placed upon them. Severely disabled children can be entirely reliant on their parents for everything and families can be left utterly exhausted. Providing a short break – either for parents and their other children or for the whole family – can make a huge difference in sustaining families and keeping them going.”
chenrezig 
annie 
JaneJ 