28.10.14
Devon CCG to deny operations to smokers and obese patients
Smokers and morbidly obese patients will be denied routine operations until they quit or lose weight under cost-saving measures by a CCG in Devon.
Northern, Eastern and Western (NEW) Devon CCG is planning to restrict procedures such as hip and knee replacements in an “urgent and necessary” move to help recover a £14.5m deficit.
Under the plans, those with a BMI over 40 will be required to lose a prescribed amount of weight, while smokers will have to quit for six weeks to qualify for surgery.
NEW Devon CCG said the move will bring it in line with other organisations and that it will be prioritising services in the NHS Constitution.
Rebecca Harriott, the CCG's chief officer, said: “We must act to protect essential services through our busiest winter months and ensure that care is there for our patients when they really need it.
“The CCG has already begun to implement a series of measures designed to improve efficiency in the system and encourage patients to contribute to improving their own health outcomes.”
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, spoke out against the plans to the Daily Mail. He pointed out that operations such as hip and knee replacements would be hugely beneficial for the obese in helping them exercise.
“This is a prescriptive and cost-cutting measure. Such operations would be hugely cost effective in the long term and highly beneficial for patients,” he said.
“It’s just rationing.”
NEW Devon is the largest of the 211 CCGs introduced last year during the coalition’s NHS reforms. Restrictions on surgery are among a range of measures the CCG has implemented to save money. Others include patients having to meet certain criteria for hernia and cataracts treatment, this criteria may include a certain amount of sight loss or having restricted movement. The CCG is also planning to reduce unnecessary consultant referrals and suspending treatments where there is poor evidence of outcomes.
(Image: c. Zdenko Zivkovic)
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