This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18495981#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
NHS care, including knee and hip operations, 'rationed' | NHS care, including knee and hip operations, 'rationed' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News |
Access to NHS care - including knee and hip operations - is being restricted, data from trusts in England suggests. | |
The evidence, gathered under the Freedom of Information Act by GP magazine, showed 90% of trusts were imposing restrictions. | |
The trend was blamed on cost-cutting by some, but the government says there was no justification for that assertion. | |
NHS managers have defended the practice, saying there were instances when care had to be prioritised. | |
The magazine received responses from two-thirds of the 151 trusts about the procedures they considered to be non-urgent. | The magazine received responses from two-thirds of the 151 trusts about the procedures they considered to be non-urgent. |
The most common restriction was on tonsillectomies, with 89% of areas rationing the availibility of this procedure. | |
That, in itself, is not that controversial, as many argue the NHS is better to concentrate its resources in most cases on other, more serious conditions. | |
But the research also found evidence of rationing in other areas. | But the research also found evidence of rationing in other areas. |
Limits on cataract surgery were in place in 66% of trusts, while more than half of trusts were rationing weight-loss surgery and hip and knee operations. | |
Another survey published by Labour found similar patterns, prompting criticism of the trust's actions from patient groups. | |
Clara Eaglen, of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: "People should not have to live with a reduced quality of life simply because PCTs are using arbitrary criteria to determine whether they get to keep their sight." | Clara Eaglen, of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: "People should not have to live with a reduced quality of life simply because PCTs are using arbitrary criteria to determine whether they get to keep their sight." |
Dr Richard Vautrey, of the British Medical Association, described the situation as a "cost-saving exercise". | Dr Richard Vautrey, of the British Medical Association, described the situation as a "cost-saving exercise". |
"Patients fully understand the NHS doesn't have unlimited resources... but they don't understand, or believe it's fair, when services are provided in one area but not another. | "Patients fully understand the NHS doesn't have unlimited resources... but they don't understand, or believe it's fair, when services are provided in one area but not another. |
"We're supposed to have a national health service, so there should be national consistency in service availability." | "We're supposed to have a national health service, so there should be national consistency in service availability." |
Health minister Simon Burns described such practices as "unacceptable". | Health minister Simon Burns described such practices as "unacceptable". |
"If local health bodies stop patients from having treatments on the basis of cost alone, we will take action against them." | |
But David Stout, of the NHS Confederation, which represents primary care trusts, said there were sometimes justifiable reasons for rationing. | But David Stout, of the NHS Confederation, which represents primary care trusts, said there were sometimes justifiable reasons for rationing. |
He said while arbitrary restrictions should not be put in place, trusts had to prioritise care in the current environment and make sure they got the best value available. | He said while arbitrary restrictions should not be put in place, trusts had to prioritise care in the current environment and make sure they got the best value available. |
"The NHS faces considerable financial pressures and scarce resources have to be used as effectively as possible." | "The NHS faces considerable financial pressures and scarce resources have to be used as effectively as possible." |
He said most advice given to trusts by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice) - which is employed to make cost-effective recommendations - was "just advice". | He said most advice given to trusts by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice) - which is employed to make cost-effective recommendations - was "just advice". |
Trusts should not be trying to do everything Nice suggested, he added. | Trusts should not be trying to do everything Nice suggested, he added. |
Do you feel you have waited a long time for cataracts surgery, a tonsillectomy or a hip or knee operation on the NHS? Get in touch using the form below. | Do you feel you have waited a long time for cataracts surgery, a tonsillectomy or a hip or knee operation on the NHS? Get in touch using the form below. |