Shooting from the hip

OPERATIONS including hip replacements and cataracts removal which are deemed of little benefit to Oldham patients are being scrapped to help save £7million NHS cash.

Doctors and health professionals have drawn up a list of operations which the NHS locally will not carry out.

The list includes:

::Knee and hip replacements.

::Cataracts operations.

::Haemorrhoid surgery.

::Some hysterectomies.

::Removing wisdom teeth, varicose veins and tonsils.

::Fitting grommets.

::Breast augmentation.

::Tattoo removal.

::Removing ‘lumps and bumps’.

::Facelifts and other cosmetic surgery.

Operations that are of no great health benefit, or are cosmetic, or where the risks and benefits are similar, will be scrapped.

However, if there are overwhelming health benefits, a GP can appeal on behalf of a patient to a special panel of doctors who can give the go-ahead for treatment.

Local GP Dr Hugh Sturgess is a board member of NHS Oldham, which provides health services in the borough.

Dr Sturgess said: “While the NHS does not want to carry out operations which have little health benefit in general, there may be overwhelming heath benefits for an individual patient and these will always be taken into account.”

At the same time, NHS Oldham has introduced a new GP referral system to ensure only patients who will benefit from treatment get to see a consultant.

Called the Referral Gateway, referrals made by a doctor for treatment will be reviewed by a different GP to ensure the patient meets a set of criteria.

New ways of working are set to save NHS Oldham £7million a year.