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| NHS England to stop 'ineffective' treatments | NHS England to stop 'ineffective' treatments |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tonsils removal, breast reductions and snoring surgery will be offered to far fewer patients from next year, under plans being drawn up by NHS England. | Tonsils removal, breast reductions and snoring surgery will be offered to far fewer patients from next year, under plans being drawn up by NHS England. |
| Officials are to discuss proposals to stop or reduce 17 routine procedures deemed to be "ineffective or risky". | Officials are to discuss proposals to stop or reduce 17 routine procedures deemed to be "ineffective or risky". |
| The treatment will be offered only if it is judged to be of "compelling" benefit and there are no alternatives. | The treatment will be offered only if it is judged to be of "compelling" benefit and there are no alternatives. |
| NHS England said the move would affect about 100,000 people every year and free up an estimated £200m. | NHS England said the move would affect about 100,000 people every year and free up an estimated £200m. |
| Patients at risk of serious harm from their condition will continue to be offered treatment. | Patients at risk of serious harm from their condition will continue to be offered treatment. |
| It follows reviews last year to save £190m from supplying over-the-counter medications and treatments described as "low value". | It follows reviews last year to save £190m from supplying over-the-counter medications and treatments described as "low value". |
| The announcement comes as thousands of people gathered in central London to mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS and demonstrate against cuts to the health service. | |
| Organisers of the rally, which include the People's Assembly - which campaigns against austerity cuts - and unions, are calling for more money for the NHS. | Organisers of the rally, which include the People's Assembly - which campaigns against austerity cuts - and unions, are calling for more money for the NHS. |
| NHS England says for most of the 17 procedures under consideration, alternative treatments including physiotherapy, a minor injection or change of diet are likely to be effective. | NHS England says for most of the 17 procedures under consideration, alternative treatments including physiotherapy, a minor injection or change of diet are likely to be effective. |
| It says the savings made by not carrying out the procedures will be reinvested in better frontline cancer, mental health and other critical services. | It says the savings made by not carrying out the procedures will be reinvested in better frontline cancer, mental health and other critical services. |
| Its national medical director, Prof Stephen Powis, said: "If we want the very best clinical care for our patients, we need to stop putting them through treatments where risks and harms outweigh the benefits. | Its national medical director, Prof Stephen Powis, said: "If we want the very best clinical care for our patients, we need to stop putting them through treatments where risks and harms outweigh the benefits. |
| "By reducing unnecessary or risky procedures for some patients we can get better outcomes while reducing waste and targeting resource to where it is most needed." | "By reducing unnecessary or risky procedures for some patients we can get better outcomes while reducing waste and targeting resource to where it is most needed." |
| The plans have the backing of health professionals and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which advises on the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of treatments. | The plans have the backing of health professionals and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which advises on the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of treatments. |
| Which treatments will be affected? | Which treatments will be affected? |
| It is proposed four treatments will be offered only when a patient makes an individual request. | It is proposed four treatments will be offered only when a patient makes an individual request. |
| These include surgery for snoring, where there is said to be only limited clinical evidence of effectiveness and which poses significant risks to patients. | These include surgery for snoring, where there is said to be only limited clinical evidence of effectiveness and which poses significant risks to patients. |
| The others are: dilatation and curettage for heavy menstrual bleeding, knee arthroscopies for osteoarthritis and injections for non-specific back pain. | The others are: dilatation and curettage for heavy menstrual bleeding, knee arthroscopies for osteoarthritis and injections for non-specific back pain. |
| A further 13 procedures will only to be offered when specific criteria are met: | A further 13 procedures will only to be offered when specific criteria are met: |
| NHS England plans to consult publicly on the proposals between 4 July and 28 September, with changes planned to start in 2019-20. | NHS England plans to consult publicly on the proposals between 4 July and 28 September, with changes planned to start in 2019-20. |
| What do patients say? | What do patients say? |
| Some have criticised the plans. | Some have criticised the plans. |
| Samantha Lilley, 29, was born with a rare genetic condition called epidermal nevus syndrome, which causes skin lesions. | Samantha Lilley, 29, was born with a rare genetic condition called epidermal nevus syndrome, which causes skin lesions. |
| Throughout her life she has had procedures to help the physical and mental suffering but is worried about whether those would be discontinued. | Throughout her life she has had procedures to help the physical and mental suffering but is worried about whether those would be discontinued. |
| She said: "They're not life threatening, but they're painful and unsightly, to leave them would be detrimental to my health." | She said: "They're not life threatening, but they're painful and unsightly, to leave them would be detrimental to my health." |
| She added: "My condition is lifelong. Is this what the NHS is now - that you must be at death's door to receive treatment? This isn't what it was created for - its purpose was to improve the quality of life of British citizens." | She added: "My condition is lifelong. Is this what the NHS is now - that you must be at death's door to receive treatment? This isn't what it was created for - its purpose was to improve the quality of life of British citizens." |
| Anthony Stuart, a 52-year-old artist blacksmith, has dupuytren's contracture - where fingers become permanently bent or flexed - and has had surgery on one of his hands to correct this. | Anthony Stuart, a 52-year-old artist blacksmith, has dupuytren's contracture - where fingers become permanently bent or flexed - and has had surgery on one of his hands to correct this. |
| He is due to have another procedure to try to correct his other hand in July. He said the treatment had a huge positive impact on his condition. | He is due to have another procedure to try to correct his other hand in July. He said the treatment had a huge positive impact on his condition. |
| "I'm astounded that the government can call treatment for Dupuytren's ineffective," added Mr Stuart. | "I'm astounded that the government can call treatment for Dupuytren's ineffective," added Mr Stuart. |
| "My consultant says if people don't have this procedure it could lead to amputation, which is even more costly to the NHS." | "My consultant says if people don't have this procedure it could lead to amputation, which is even more costly to the NHS." |
| How have medical professionals reacted? | How have medical professionals reacted? |
| GP Brian Hope said he hoped publishing the list would make people come up with healthier solutions to certain problems. | GP Brian Hope said he hoped publishing the list would make people come up with healthier solutions to certain problems. |
| He added: "We have still got to try and get people to think, 'Wait a minute, could I do something myself - lose weight, be more active?' | He added: "We have still got to try and get people to think, 'Wait a minute, could I do something myself - lose weight, be more active?' |
| Physiotherapist Lucy Macdonald also welcomed the plans, saying she was pleased knee arthroscopies and shoulder decompressions would be limited, "because for a long time research has shown they are largely ineffective". | Physiotherapist Lucy Macdonald also welcomed the plans, saying she was pleased knee arthroscopies and shoulder decompressions would be limited, "because for a long time research has shown they are largely ineffective". |
| Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chairwoman Prof Carrie MacEwen said the changes would benefit patients, clinicians and the NHS as a whole "by reducing harm and targeting those who will benefit most". | Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chairwoman Prof Carrie MacEwen said the changes would benefit patients, clinicians and the NHS as a whole "by reducing harm and targeting those who will benefit most". |
| Are you due to have a routine procedure which may be cancelled? Or has it been cancelled already? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you due to have a routine procedure which may be cancelled? Or has it been cancelled already? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |