LABOUR’S SECRET HEALTH AGENDA

LABOUR’S SECRET HEALTH AGENDA - CREEPING PRIVATISATION & PRESCRIPTION CHARGES FOR PENSIONERS

SNP CHALLENGE IAIN GRAY OVER WENDY ALEXANDER’S THINK TANK MEMBERSHIP

The SNP have seized on a report by a think tank which boasts ex-Scottish Labour Party leader Wendy Alexander as one of their policy advisors which proposes paying to see the GP and making pensioners should pay for their prescription charges.

The report by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) calls for patients to pay up to £20 to see a GP and the abolition of free prescription charges for all pensioners. Not only does the SMF’s Policy Advisory Board include Wendy Alexander but Cabinet Minister Liam Byrne – another close confidante of Gordon Brown.

This is in contrast with the SNP’s policy for prescription charges which will see them phased out for ALL patients by 2011. Already they have been reduced from £6.85 to £4.00 this year.

Commenting SNP MSP Michael Matheson – a member of the Scottish Parliament's health committee – said:

“It is absolutely astonishing that Labour would associate with such a report. These proposals are quite simply creeping privatisation and go against the principles of the NHS. Iain Gray needs to repudiate it immediately, and his predecessor’s involvement.

“By supporting such a think tank, Wendy Alexander is exposing Labour’s secret health agenda. That Liam Byrne – another Gordon Brown ally – is also on the advisory board further confirms this. Scotland’s NHS would not be safe in their hands – particularly when they want to cut the Scottish budget by £500 million.

“In the Glasgow North East by-election, people can reject Labour’s support for charging for GP appointments, and support an SNP government that is delivering a first class health service in Scotland.

"While Labour want to impose more charges, the SNP Government are abolishing prescription charges and ending the tax on ill-health.

"This upholds the founding principles of the NHS - that healthcare should be free at the point of use. Removing prescription charges will ensure that cost is not a barrier to those needing to access the medication prescribed to them.”