10
Aug 2016
NHS commissioning group proposes ban on non-essential operations
St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has proposed a temporary suspension on all non-vital operations for a period of four months during the winter period.
Geoffrey Appleton, lay chair of the CCG, said in the group’s Financial Recovery Plan that, although he knew the move would be unpopular, they were facing a gap in funding this year of £12.5m.
The group also propose a stop to some over the counter medicines and the provision of gluten free foods, and a 24 month suspension of IVF treatment for patients under the age of 37.
Mr Appleton said that the move would “support hospitals during the busy winter period” and would enable them to focus on their sickest patients.
He went on to say “Imagine our NHS budget is your household budget and every year the cost of living goes up but your salary doesn’t increase; the result is money becomes tighter and tighter.
“Now imagine another relative comes to live with you and because of their health needs are unable to work and cannot contribute financially. How would you manage?”
Deputy chair of the BMA’s GP committee, Dr Richard Vautrey, said the plans “highlight the incredible financial pressure facing general practice and its impact on patient care.”
He went on to say “It cannot be right that the public will be effectively denied access to healthcare because the local CCG has run out of money.
“The cost to the health service of delaying referrals could ultimately be much greater in the long term as more complex and costly problems develop as a result.”
Of the plans to stop prescriptions for gluten-free food, the charity Coeliac UK said the move will “leave vulnerable patients without support” and “could cost the NHS more in the long run”.
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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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