Written Question · S2W-06168 · Session 2
Whether it has any plans to increase prescription and other health service charges.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase prescription and other health service charges.
The answer
We shall lay before the Parliament regulations to increase prescription and other National HealthService charges in Scotland from 1 April 2004. There will be a cash increase inthe prescription charge of 10p (1.59%) from £6.30 to £6.40 for each quantity ofa drug or appliance dispensed.
The cost of a prescriptionpre-payment certificate will rise to £33.40 for a four month certificate and£91.80 for an annual certificate. These offer savings for people needing morethan five items in four months or 14 items in one year.
Prescription charges areexpected to raise some £47.4 million for NHSScotland in 2003-04.
Charges for elasticstockings and tights, wigs and most fabric supports supplied through theHospital Service will be increased similarly.
The maximum patient chargefor a single course of dental treatment begun on or after 1 April 2004 willincrease from £372 to £378.
We have restricted theprescription charge increase to the same cash amount as the previous five yearsand the other increases are in line with this percentage increase.
The majority of opticalvoucher values will increase by 2.5%. Voucher values for people with highprescriptions, for whom the cost is greater, will increase by 10%. Theseincreases will help children, people on low income and certain people withcomplex sight problems with the cost of spectacles or contact lenses.
NHS charges and opticalvoucher values in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for those administrations.
The cost of a prescriptionpre-payment certificate will rise to £33.40 for a four month certificate and£91.80 for an annual certificate. These offer savings for people needing morethan five items in four months or 14 items in one year.
Prescription charges areexpected to raise some £47.4 million for NHSScotland in 2003-04.
Charges for elasticstockings and tights, wigs and most fabric supports supplied through theHospital Service will be increased similarly.
The maximum patient chargefor a single course of dental treatment begun on or after 1 April 2004 willincrease from £372 to £378.
We have restricted theprescription charge increase to the same cash amount as the previous five yearsand the other increases are in line with this percentage increase.
The majority of opticalvoucher values will increase by 2.5%. Voucher values for people with highprescriptions, for whom the cost is greater, will increase by 10%. Theseincreases will help children, people on low income and certain people withcomplex sight problems with the cost of spectacles or contact lenses.
NHS charges and opticalvoucher values in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for those administrations.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-06168 by reference.