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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Prescription charges abolished in Scotland | Prescription charges abolished in Scotland |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Scotland has joined Northern Ireland and Wales in abolishing prescription fees - leaving England as the only part of the UK to charge for them. | Scotland has joined Northern Ireland and Wales in abolishing prescription fees - leaving England as the only part of the UK to charge for them. |
| No one in Scotland will have to pay for prescribed medicines following the move brought in by the SNP government. | No one in Scotland will have to pay for prescribed medicines following the move brought in by the SNP government. |
| It comes on the same day charges per item rise in England by 20p to £7.40. | It comes on the same day charges per item rise in England by 20p to £7.40. |
| But despite the charge, 90% of items dispensed are given out free as children, those on low incomes and cancer patients are exempt. | But despite the charge, 90% of items dispensed are given out free as children, those on low incomes and cancer patients are exempt. |
| Prescription charges have been falling in Scotland for the last three years and stood at £3 before the 1 April change, which will mean the Scottish government losing out on £57m a year. | Prescription charges have been falling in Scotland for the last three years and stood at £3 before the 1 April change, which will mean the Scottish government losing out on £57m a year. |
| Under devolution, Wales was the first part of the UK to make prescriptions free - four years ago - and Northern Ireland followed in 2010. | Under devolution, Wales was the first part of the UK to make prescriptions free - four years ago - and Northern Ireland followed in 2010. |
| Prescriptions were free for all when the NHS was set up in 1948, but charges were introduced in the early 1950s to plug gaps in funding. | Prescriptions were free for all when the NHS was set up in 1948, but charges were introduced in the early 1950s to plug gaps in funding. |
| The Department of Health defended its policy of charging in England. | The Department of Health defended its policy of charging in England. |
| It said the fees raised more than £450m a year - equivalent to the salary costs of 18,000 nurses or 3,500 hospital consultants. | It said the fees raised more than £450m a year - equivalent to the salary costs of 18,000 nurses or 3,500 hospital consultants. |
| A spokeswoman said: "This income helps the NHS to maintain vital services for patients." | A spokeswoman said: "This income helps the NHS to maintain vital services for patients." |
| And she added alongside the exemptions those needing regular prescriptions, such as patients with long-term conditions, were eligible for discounted rates. | And she added alongside the exemptions those needing regular prescriptions, such as patients with long-term conditions, were eligible for discounted rates. |
| The spokeswoman said: "The price of the 12-month prescription pre-payment certificate will be frozen for the second year running. This allows people to get all the prescriptions they need for an average cost of £2 per week." | The spokeswoman said: "The price of the 12-month prescription pre-payment certificate will be frozen for the second year running. This allows people to get all the prescriptions they need for an average cost of £2 per week." |
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