Anger over Scots move to abolish prescription fees

"Prescription charges are to be abolished in Scotland – a move that is certain to infuriate patients in other parts of the UK.

Scottish health minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed yesterday that fees for drugs will be slashed by a quarter from £6.85 to £5 from April next year, with all charges being eliminated by 2011.

The measure, which will cost almost £60 million, was a centrepiece of the Scottish National Party’s manifesto that helped them to win power in this year’s elections. But it is set to anger English taxpayers, who subsidise Scotland to the tune of £22 billion a year while still having to pay for their prescriptions. English cancer patient Sandra Aldersley, 45, said it was “disgusting” that she would have to carry on paying."