Some of the most common operations — including hip replacements and cataract
surgery — will be rationed as part of attempts to save billions of pounds,
despite government promises that front-line services would be protected.
Patients’ groups have described the measures as “astonishingly brutal”.
An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph has uncovered widespread cuts planned
across the NHS, many of which have already been agreed by senior health
service officials. They include:
* Restrictions on some of the most basic and common operations, including hip
and knee replacements, cataract surgery and orthodontic procedures.
* Plans to cut hundreds of thousands of pounds from budgets for the terminally
ill, with dying cancer patients to be told to manage their own symptoms if
their condition worsens at evenings or weekends.
* The closure of nursing homes for the elderly.
* A reduction in acute hospital beds, including those for the mentally ill,
with targets to discourage GPs from sending patients to hospitals and reduce
the number of people using accident and emergency departments.
* Tighter rationing of NHS funding for IVF treatment, and for surgery for
obesity.
* Thousands of job losses at NHS hospitals, including 500 staff to go at a
trust where cancer patients recently suffered delays in diagnosis and
treatment because of staff shortages.
* Cost-cutting programmes in paediatric and maternity services, care of the
elderly and services that provide respite breaks to long-term carers.
The Sunday Telegraph found the details of hundreds of cuts buried in obscure
appendices to lengthy policy and strategy documents published by trusts. In
most cases, local communities appear to be unaware of the plans.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7908742/Axe-falls-on-NHS-services.html">read more
"Educate and inform the whole mass of people. They are the only sure reliance of the preservation of our freedom."
-- Thomas Jefferson
What Does Govt. Run Health Care Look Like?
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 10:23:22 AM
