‘Why does everyone think that services should be free?’ – Edinburgh Evening news readers react to cuts to health and social care

Officials have warned that up to £36m is expected to be cut from health and social care services in the Capital next year – bring the threat of a “direct impact” on frontline care. Here’s what readers thought.

The city’s social care budget is facing a severe cut

It’s mainly down to an aging population and the drastic cuts to council budgets (many other places have similar problems, which suggest sit is not down to Edinburgh itself. I’d rather pay more tax myself – there’s no way those services are going to take a further cut without the most vulnerable being badly hit. But I suspect it is really a Tory plot to push more people into private care where their mates are.

Ruth Durie

I would love to know how much it costs annually for free prescriptions. It makes no sense to me to give prescriptions free to everyone, especially those well able to pay, when that money could be better used elsewhere.

The recent fare increase does not seem to have dented Lothian Buses' popularity (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

Craig Ferguson

I for one would happily pay for my prescription. You could do a sliding scale – one item a £1; three items £3; five or more £5. All that money would get ring fenced for the NHS only.

Atholl Cunningham

What about all the money students and tourists are bringing to the city? You would think we wouldn’t have to cut services as we are constantly being told they make us a fortune.

John Whyte

Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s pointless vanity projects will continue to be fully funded.

Lucien Romano

How about everyone pays £1 for a prescription and £2 to see a doctor. Why does everyone think all medical services should be free? People have to realise there are no such things as free lunches any more. Let’s all contribute to the NHS.

Darren Chatt

The cost of administering prescriptions was higher than offering them free of charge.

Carol McEvoy

But the NHS has £350m extra a week so that should equate to £35m a week extra for the Scottish NHS – unless someone was telling porky pies?

Ali Grieve

Boris lied, didn’t he?

Alan Inverarity

It’s the SNP government that’s cutting budgets and demanding immediate savings of millions across Scottish health boards.

Ian Simpson

This is a disgrace when they are digging up Edinburgh for stupid trams that we dont want or need, Social care needs the funds.

Donna Butler

The article says the council it’s going to trim £40 million from somewhere and that will be from vital services. And yet the council still intended to spend, or borrow, £100s of Millions on their insane vanity projects, Trams, Cycleways, Street beautification. HOW can they possibly justify this in any way? It’s simply crazy, insane thinking. The councillors definitely believe they are “visionary” but it’s just pure vanity and it’s vanity which we and our children’s children’s children will still be paying for long after the tram lines have been ripped up and replaced by something else.

Jon Clark

Fare dealing

In other news, readers are getting used to Lothian Buses’ increased fares, with the price of a single adult ticket up to £1.80 – and most are supportive.

It’s 10p! Still by far one of the best services in our entire country.

Michelle Mearns

A 10p increase is hardly a price hike. Think yourselves lucky that you have such affordable fares - living in a rural area, we have to shell out a lot more than you do even to travel modest distances.

Elaine Reid

If that’s what it takes it’s worth it. Edinburgh has the best bus service ever

Nan Wilson

In Liverpool we pay £2.30. We’ll done Edinburgh for making public transport affordable.

John Hogan

Trams need to be paid for.

Steven Robertson

They should be reducing the fares to encourage more people to use public transport.

Richard Hannah

I didn’t realise they had gone up. I’ve been throwing in £1.70 all day and the drivers haven’t even said anything.

Adam Rauch

Anyone moaning about this great bus service – buy a bike. Kenny Smith

They have removed services and changed routes and still they ram every bus along princes street. They need to bring more of the little sprinter buses that connect areas and schemes

Jake Fraser

The best bus service in the UK? Try waiting on a No.2 and you’ll soon change your mind.

Ian Buchanan

10p every day Monday-Friday is 50p. That’s a bag of Aldi long-grained rice that my children will go without.

Ian Toall