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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Patients forced to wait for care | Patients forced to wait for care |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A quarter of local health groups in England are asking patients to wait longer for hospital care to bring down NHS deficits, a BBC survey suggests. | A quarter of local health groups in England are asking patients to wait longer for hospital care to bring down NHS deficits, a BBC survey suggests. |
| Two thirds of the 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) responded. | Two thirds of the 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) responded. |
| Some are imposing minimum waiting times, while others are telling patients and GPs they won't pay for some treatments until April. | Some are imposing minimum waiting times, while others are telling patients and GPs they won't pay for some treatments until April. |
| Health minister Caroline Flint said some areas had to "live within their means" but patients would not suffer. | Health minister Caroline Flint said some areas had to "live within their means" but patients would not suffer. |
| Varicose veins | Varicose veins |
| In some areas patients are even finding that certain treatments have simply been taken off the list for NHS funding. | In some areas patients are even finding that certain treatments have simply been taken off the list for NHS funding. |
| Millie Lomas, 72, went to her local hospital last week for an injection to help with her chronic back pain. | Millie Lomas, 72, went to her local hospital last week for an injection to help with her chronic back pain. |
| Her consultant told Mrs Lomas that North Yorkshire and York PCT is no longer funding the injections. It is one on the list of indefinitely suspended treatments. | Her consultant told Mrs Lomas that North Yorkshire and York PCT is no longer funding the injections. It is one on the list of indefinitely suspended treatments. |
| In some parts of the country trusts are setting certain minimum waiting times within this timeframe to live within their means Health minister Caroline Flint Send us your experiences | In some parts of the country trusts are setting certain minimum waiting times within this timeframe to live within their means Health minister Caroline Flint Send us your experiences |
| Mrs Lomas said she was flabbergasted after four years of regular treatment to have it withdrawn without any warning. | Mrs Lomas said she was flabbergasted after four years of regular treatment to have it withdrawn without any warning. |
| She now fears the return of long-term pain that prevents her even doing routine housework. | She now fears the return of long-term pain that prevents her even doing routine housework. |
| "It's disgusting what's happening, it really is. I'm really worried, I don't know what I'll do. " | "It's disgusting what's happening, it really is. I'm really worried, I don't know what I'll do. " |
| Thousands of patients in North Yorkshire are similarly affected. | Thousands of patients in North Yorkshire are similarly affected. |
| The PCT is forecasting that at the end of the financial year it will have a deficit of £43.5m. | The PCT is forecasting that at the end of the financial year it will have a deficit of £43.5m. |
| Family doctors have been told they cannot send patients to hospital for a long list of treatments for non-urgent conditions for the last three months of the financial year. | Family doctors have been told they cannot send patients to hospital for a long list of treatments for non-urgent conditions for the last three months of the financial year. |
| These include IVF, vasectomies, varicose vein treatment, wisdom teeth and other minor operations. | These include IVF, vasectomies, varicose vein treatment, wisdom teeth and other minor operations. |
| 'Arbitrary deadline' | 'Arbitrary deadline' |
| The PCT has also issued instructions to local hospitals that patients arriving at A&E with minor injuries should be redirected to alternative services because it will not pay if they could be appropriately treated elsewhere. | The PCT has also issued instructions to local hospitals that patients arriving at A&E with minor injuries should be redirected to alternative services because it will not pay if they could be appropriately treated elsewhere. |
| Requests by the BBC for an interview with the PCT were refused. | Requests by the BBC for an interview with the PCT were refused. |
| In a statement the PCT said it had to take emergency measures to improve its finances and the restrictions only effect non urgent treatment. | In a statement the PCT said it had to take emergency measures to improve its finances and the restrictions only effect non urgent treatment. |
| "Patients needing routine surgery are treated no sooner than 16 weeks, but no more than 20 weeks, which is still within national government targets for waiting times." | "Patients needing routine surgery are treated no sooner than 16 weeks, but no more than 20 weeks, which is still within national government targets for waiting times." |
| We need to plan strategically Dr Douglas Moederley-Lumb | We need to plan strategically Dr Douglas Moederley-Lumb |
| This week, both local councillors and GP s held emergency meetings with the PCT chief executive. | This week, both local councillors and GP s held emergency meetings with the PCT chief executive. |
| Dr Douglas Moederley-Lumb who runs a practice in Scarborough, said the problems of poor financial management over several years cannot be sorted out in a few months. | Dr Douglas Moederley-Lumb who runs a practice in Scarborough, said the problems of poor financial management over several years cannot be sorted out in a few months. |
| He described the current approach as slash-and-burn, and said it was causing suffering to his patients. | He described the current approach as slash-and-burn, and said it was causing suffering to his patients. |
| "The problem is this arbitrary deadline. | "The problem is this arbitrary deadline. |
| The Health Secretary has said the NHS will be back in balance by end of the financial year. | The Health Secretary has said the NHS will be back in balance by end of the financial year. |
| "That's short-termism. We need to plan strategically over next few years." | "That's short-termism. We need to plan strategically over next few years." |
| PCT manage about 80% of the total NHS budget and are responsible for paying the bills for hospital treatment for patients in their area. | PCT manage about 80% of the total NHS budget and are responsible for paying the bills for hospital treatment for patients in their area. |
| This year many face intense pressure to sort out historical financial problems. | This year many face intense pressure to sort out historical financial problems. |
| The latest government figures show that 40% are forecasting they will finish the financial year with a deficit. | The latest government figures show that 40% are forecasting they will finish the financial year with a deficit. |
| They can make patients wait longer as long as they don't break the current government target for maximum waiting time for inpatient treatment which is six months. | They can make patients wait longer as long as they don't break the current government target for maximum waiting time for inpatient treatment which is six months. |
| But health minister Caroline Flint said: "Nobody who needs urgent or emergency treatment is affected. | But health minister Caroline Flint said: "Nobody who needs urgent or emergency treatment is affected. |
| She stressed waiting times were at their lowest ever. | |
| However she added: "In some parts of the country trusts are setting certain minimum waiting times within this timeframe to live within their means, but this is not at the expense of clinical need." |