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NHS rationing rife, say doctors | NHS rationing rife, say doctors |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Rationing of NHS treatments is becoming more widespread, a survey of GPs and hospital doctors suggests. | |
Doctor magazine asked readers about rationing. Of 653 answering questions on consequences, 107 - 16% - said patients had died early as a result. | Doctor magazine asked readers about rationing. Of 653 answering questions on consequences, 107 - 16% - said patients had died early as a result. |
More than half - 349 - said patients had suffered as a result. This compared with one in five in a similar survey conducted nine years ago. | More than half - 349 - said patients had suffered as a result. This compared with one in five in a similar survey conducted nine years ago. |
The government said decisions had to be made on which treatments to provide. | The government said decisions had to be made on which treatments to provide. |
The magazine asked 12,000 of its readers a variety of questions with between 473 and 857 replying to each one. | The magazine asked 12,000 of its readers a variety of questions with between 473 and 857 replying to each one. |
Doctors said more debate was urgently needed over what should and should not be rationed. | Doctors said more debate was urgently needed over what should and should not be rationed. |
There is not much honesty and openness about this Richard Vautrey, of the BMA | There is not much honesty and openness about this Richard Vautrey, of the BMA |
They reported not being allowed to prescribe drug treatments including smoking cessation drugs and anti-obesity treatment. | They reported not being allowed to prescribe drug treatments including smoking cessation drugs and anti-obesity treatment. |
They also reported that local NHS trusts had been placing restrictions on fertility treatments, obesity surgery and a host of minor operations, including those for varicose veins. | They also reported that local NHS trusts had been placing restrictions on fertility treatments, obesity surgery and a host of minor operations, including those for varicose veins. |
The magazine said the findings of the latest poll showed rationing was becoming more widespread. | The magazine said the findings of the latest poll showed rationing was becoming more widespread. |
A similar survey nine years ago showed that a much smaller proportion - one in five, compared to half - were aware of patients who had suffered due to rationing. | A similar survey nine years ago showed that a much smaller proportion - one in five, compared to half - were aware of patients who had suffered due to rationing. |
Rationing has become a sensitive subject in the NHS. | Rationing has become a sensitive subject in the NHS. |
Independent advisory body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, makes recommendations on new, expensive treatments. | Independent advisory body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, makes recommendations on new, expensive treatments. |
But with limited budgets, local trusts are often forced to cut back on other treatments to keep pace with the recommendations. | But with limited budgets, local trusts are often forced to cut back on other treatments to keep pace with the recommendations. |
'Honesty' | 'Honesty' |
Many experts fear the situation will get worse with increasing demands on the health service made by the ageing population and expected advances in medicines. | Many experts fear the situation will get worse with increasing demands on the health service made by the ageing population and expected advances in medicines. |
Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, said: "There is not much honesty and openness about this. | Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, said: "There is not much honesty and openness about this. |
"The NHS could spend whatever you gave it, but it obviously works with a limited budget so we urgently need to have a debate about what can be provided. | "The NHS could spend whatever you gave it, but it obviously works with a limited budget so we urgently need to have a debate about what can be provided. |
"Trusts are already being forced into this but the political parties are not talking about it." | "Trusts are already being forced into this but the political parties are not talking about it." |
And Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, which represents NHS trusts, added: "Rationing is the great unspoken reality. | And Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, which represents NHS trusts, added: "Rationing is the great unspoken reality. |
"The only people who refuse to mention the 'r-word' are the media and the politicians, who continue to want to promise everything for everyone in order to win elections." | "The only people who refuse to mention the 'r-word' are the media and the politicians, who continue to want to promise everything for everyone in order to win elections." |
A Department of Health spokesman said it was not trying to avoid the issue. | A Department of Health spokesman said it was not trying to avoid the issue. |
"The NHS has received an unprecedented funding boost in recent years but finance is not endless and hard decisions will always have to be made about which treatments to provide." | "The NHS has received an unprecedented funding boost in recent years but finance is not endless and hard decisions will always have to be made about which treatments to provide." |
But he added: "Doctors and nurses make these clinical decisions with patients - not managers or politicians." | But he added: "Doctors and nurses make these clinical decisions with patients - not managers or politicians." |
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