Prescription charges row

Prescriptions will become free in Wales today - on the same day the rest of the country sees a 20p rise from £6.65 to £6.85.

It prompted calls for charges to be scrapped across the NHS in the wake of the Welsh decision. Welsh people living near the border who use a GP in England will be able to claim free prescriptions at a Welsh pharmacist with an entitlement card.

But Llanyblodwel and Pant ward councillor Dilys Gaskill, said it was a "postcode lottery" and said she hoped England would soon follow Wales' lead.

"There is going to be a lot of confusion if people visit Wales from Oswestry and happen to take their prescriptions to local chemists. We are supposed to be a United Kingdom and all health care provisions and services should be uniform."

Councillor Gaskill added: "This imaginary line between England and Wales is leading to a different set of rules for people literally living across the road from each other, like in Llanymynech.

"If you have a Welsh postcode you will benefit from free prescriptions but you won't if you have an English one. It seems like one rule for one, one for another."

She added: "Those having to pay for a series of prescriptions could benefit from an NHS scheme enabling them to make a saving by purchasing a 12 month Prescription Pre-payment Certificate."

However, The Department of Health, which said the health service will get about £430 million from prescriptions in 2006/07, has no plans to abolish charges.

Patients' Association spokeswoman Katherine Murphy said: "It's a National Health Service - then it should be prescriptions for free the other side of the Severn Bridge if it's going to be free in Wales.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We have no plans to abolish prescription charges.

"This is a devolved matter and the level of the charge in Wales is a decision for the National Assembly for Wales.

"Prescription charges provide a valuable contribution to the NHS in England, estimated to be £430 million for 2006-07.

"Abolishing them would significantly reduce the money available to deliver other health priorities."

By Antonia Merola