| Comment | Wanted to add some figures, annually:
- 106 million a year for NEC scheme (free bus travel for under 21s) in 2021.
- 8.7 million cost for baby boxes 2018-2019.
- 1.4 billion on free prescriptions & dispensing 2020-2021. 300 million of those costs due to covid measures in dispensing. 52 million spent on key ingredients for medication to prevent blood clots & respiratory conditions. Total cost of prescription items per head of population for same year was £1398 - everyone has that lying around if they get I’ll and need a regular prescription for 12 months. Or maybe they would just go without an inhaler, blood thinner, skin cream, antidepressant etc.
That was at a glance - some quick stats. I’m open to suggestions or ideas how this could have been better spent or issues created could be mitigated. I mean the baby box & travel is a drop in the ocean really.
Free prescriptions would balance the books. But then we would likely have more people becoming ill due to poor health. More people claiming health benefits due to longstanding issues. More NHS costs. More sick pay. More children’s health being neglect. In some instances probably more death - so a saving on state pension maybe? |
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