[Correspondence] The extent of rationing of surgical procedures in England

Anecdotal evidence suggests that access to elective surgery in the UK is being restricted by primary care trusts (PCTs) that implement funding policies contingent on clinical referral thresholds. This notion has been widely reported in popular media, but has not been scrutinised objectively. We briefly report the epidemiology and practice of these policies in five procedures: inguinal hernia repair, varicose vein surgery, cataract surgery, total knee replacement, and total hip replacement.

Source: LANCET - February 15, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Henry Lee, Steve Beales, James Kinross, Elaine Burns, Ara Darzi Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research