Free Dental checks in Scotland to be scraped?
The First Minister, Alex Salmond, is considering scraping free dental and eye checks in Scotland according to sources close to him.
The changes come as Salmond launches a list of policies, named the ‘three sacred cows’, which aim combat the cuts in public spending to come. The policies include providing free healthcare for the elderly, regardless of individual wealth or situation. Most other health related benefits are considered to be scrapped and, when asked directly about dental checks, Mr. Salmond’s administration said that they were keen to keep the universal benefits but that times were ‘difficult’ and changed needed to be made with the ‘least amount of pain.’
The proposed changes also aim to address medical prescription charges and tuition fees as a way to provide beneficial services for those who are eligible but to charge those who can afford to pay for them.
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