07
Jul 2017
NHS patients left in pain through treatment and operation rationing
The British Medical Journal has found evidence that treatments usually given routinely, including knee and hip replacements, cataract surgery and medication for conditions such as arthritis, are increasingly being cut back, with more doctors resorting to special appeals to have their patients treated.
The restrictions on non-emergency treatment have been blamed on lack of funding.
Exceptional requests are made by doctors for treatment that is not usually funded locally through the NHS, or where a patient does not qualify because their condition is not considered to be severe enough. The appeal is made locally to a panel in order to decide whether or not to allow the treatment.
In the case of knee and hip replacements, a scoring system is used to determine the patient’s lack of mobility and level of discomfort. By raising the bar at which a referral can be made, treatment numbers can be restricted.
Chief executive of NHS Clinical Commissioners, Julie Wood, said that the NHS was struggling to keep up with demand, despite seeing an increase in patient numbers.
“Unfortunately, the NHS does not have unlimited resources and ensuring patients get high-quality care against a backdrop of spiralling demand and increasing financial pressures is one of the biggest issues CCGs face.
“As a result, there are some tough choices that have to be made, which we appreciate can be difficult for some patients.”
The Royal College of Surgeons’ Stephen Cannon, said that local NHS managers were “unfairly and unnecessarily prolonging the time patients will spend in pain, possibly immobile and unable to carry out daily tasks or to work.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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