[log in to unmask] wrote:
> Quoting Allan Harris <[log in to unmask]> on Sun 04 Mar 2007 06:10:27
> PM GMT:
>
>
> Can you do it on some form of easy terms; snip now, pay later
>
> Mike Wells
>
>> Paul Bromley wrote:
>>> Is anyone else in this situation. We crazily have been forbidden from
>>> referring anyone on the NHS this year for a vasectomy. I wonder how
>>> may TOPs and unwanted kids will arise as a consequence of this
>>> short-sightedness. GPs across the patch all universally condemned the
>>> decision that was unlikely to save a great deal of money, but we were
>>> not listened to. A case of being invited to a meeting to discuss, but
>>> then having the meeting twisted to look as though we were
>>> rubberstamping all of the cuts. Obviously as you can imagine there are
>>> no funds for IVF either!
>>>
>> Even dafter our practice set up a vasectomy service under PBC and this
>> has been halted to save a few quid - until the next financial year.
>>
>> Allan Harris
>>
>
The main effect is the generation of a waiting list which wasn't there
before. It is a small example, we cannot order some investigations,
which are unlikely to be reinstated, DEXA, lumbar spine XR (which is no
problem as the evidence of benefit is so small), no MRI for back
patients, no facet joint injections for patients with back problems, no
IVF, no grommets, carpal tunnel operations, De Quervain's, trigger
fingers, arthroscopies etc.
The problem is that this was instituted at very short notice with no
consultation and we have to plead the indicvidual cases with an
'exceptions panel' who so far are pretty difficult to negotiate with.
This is all about cost containment. At the same time the Independent
Treatment Centre has a very underspent budget, which is fixed, for the
bread and butter procedures.
It is all quite crazy.
Allan Harris
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