Money must come second in healthcare

The wonder of the NHS is that it puts world-class healthcare at all our fingertips. By treating everyone as equal – no matter where they come from, their personal circumstances or what they have salted away in a bank account – the NHS has revolutionised healthcare in this country.

Millions of people every year enjoy high quality care on demand, safe in the knowledge they will not be invoiced later for the time incurred by nurses, doctors and specialists in providing care and the medications they receive.

While it is something that our society is accustomed to, free healthcare at the point of delivery is not guaranteed.

It is a theme that is already being explored in the heat of the general election fray as the prospect of a trade deal with America post-Brexit comes under scrutiny.

But whatever the future holds on a macro-political level, the costs of providing healthcare and dispensing medicines is an issue that is here to stay.

Boots has now found itself caught up in that debate after introducing a new delivery charge for prescriptions.

The chemist has set up a new online service which offers free postal delivery. Many of those who receive prescriptions will be vulnerable, elderly and may be unable to use a computer to make the possible saving.

Vigilance is required to ensure those who are sick are not being forced to make crucial decisions about their health with money foremost in their minds.