Today’s Telegraph splash on Scotland’s plans to abolish prescription charges might sound like Tory bleating, not helped by the paper’s distasteful use of the word “apartheid” to describe differences between the health systems north and south of the border.
But, as a Scot living in London, I’d know where I’d rather fall ill.
The health system in Scotland is markedly superior to that in London (I can’t speak for the rest of England). It’s the little things – like being easier to get an appointment to see the doctor – that make a difference. Other benefits are reeled off in today’s Telegraph:
“Scottish residents already have access to free eye care and dental check ups, free personal care for the elderly, extra central heating grants and a number of drugs deemed “too costly” for the National Health Service in England and Wales.”
Thing is, it’s hard to argue Scotland shouldn’t have these things (although someone will). It’s a standard of care for the rest of Britain to aspire to, not crush. Those of us down here have a right to ask why, given NHS spending has doubled under Labour (£92bn this year – which rather puts the £60m it’ll cost to abolish Scottish prescription charges in perspective) things aren’t much better everywhere.
It’s doubly interesting when there’s an SNP government in Holyrood. Looking through a cynical eye, you can see there’s no disincentive for the nationalists to spend, spend, spend. They can, simultaneously, do the right thing for their voters – and generous healthcare provision for an unhealthy nation is a good thing to spend your money on – while also increasing the chances of goading London into doing something that would guarantee stronger nationalist voting in the future. The SNP is spending on someone else’s tab, and there’s no need to face reality until they’ve achieved their goal of independence.
How long can Labour stand the obvious gulf in public sector provision, and spending, between north and south? Faced with losing middle England, London Labour’s shown no backbone over things like inheritance tax. What might happen to all those Scottish Labour MPs if, again faced with a revolt from the shires, they voted to take money from Scotland through revision of the Barnett formula?
Scotland, handed either higher taxes or reduced healthcare provision, would surely take revenge at the ballot box – and usher in Tory government down south.
Maybe Labour, recognising this bind, will instead look to recreate the Scottish healthcare dream down here. That would be wonderful, if expensive. But they’ve spent lots already. So for now, those of us in London left waiting days and days to see a doctor, even after Brown’s billions, might still ask: can he manage to deliver?
Will ye no’ come back again?
Only joking …..
[...] good to see Times columnist Magnus Linklater agree with my earlier post here that it’s better to get sick in Scotland than in England, for the moment. He also spots [...]