Postcode lottery as patients denied routine operations

Patients in some parts of England are unfairly denied routine operations and others are undergoing unnecessary surgery, a report claims today.

The King’s Fund found “persistent and widespread variations” of as much as fourfold across England in patients’ chances of undergoing surgery for common procedures such as cataract or hip replacements.

Its report said: “This suggests that many patients are not being given surgery they need and that some may be undergoing operations that they do not benefit from.”

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Patients in deprived areas appeared to miss out more on some effective treatments.

King’s Fund chief economist John Appleby said the variations were “unfair to patients and inefficient for the NHS”.

He said: “Remedying this is urgent, given the need to improve quality of care while the NHS grapples with the biggest financial challenge in its history.”

In a separate study, the Audit Commission said up to £500m could be saved each year by carrying out fewer “ineffective” operations such as removing tonsils and wisdom teeth.

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Managing director Andy Mc-Keon said: “Primary care trusts are currently paying for treatments that cost the taxpayer money and according to clinical experts have little or no real value to patients. This needs to change.”

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