UK'S National Health Service begins Rationing Surgeries - Polidicks

Hip replacements, cataract surgery and tonsil removal are among operations now being rationed in a bid to save the NHS money. Two-thirds of health trusts in England are rationing treatments for "non-urgent" conditions as part of the drive to reduce costs in the NHS by £20bn over the next four years. One in three primary-care trusts (PCTs) has expanded the list of procedures it will restrict funding to in the past 12 months. Examples of the rationing now being used include: * Hip and knee replacements only being allowed where patients are in severe pain. Overweight patients will be made to lose weight before being considered for an operation. * Cataract operations being withheld from patients until their sight problems "substantially" affect their ability to work. * Patients with varicose veins only being operated on if they are suffering "chronic continuous pain", ulceration or bleeding. * Tonsillectomy (removing tonsils) only to be carried out in children if they have had seven bouts of tonsillitis in the previous year. * Grommets to improve hearing in children only being inserted in "exceptional circumstances" and after monitoring for six months. * Funding has also been cut in some areas for IVF treatment on the NHS. Full Article [url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/cataracts-hips-knees-and-tonsils-nhs-begins-rationing-operations-2327268.html]here.[/url]

Well, I guess that non-essential operations aren't really that important, and the NHS is just trying to trim their budgets, but for some odd reason this makes me feel a little uneasy. Probably the word "rationing", since I almost ALWAYS associated the word with WW2 UK and wartime on the home front in general, since those times weren't as free and ample as modern days...

How wonderful.

an unfortunate side effect of the massive amounts of budget cuts in the UK, not an inherent problem with Universal Healthcare

[quote]* Hip and knee replacements only being allowed where patients are in severe pain. Overweight patients will be made to lose weight before being considered for an operation. * Cataract operations being withheld from patients until their sight problems "substantially" affect their ability to work. *Tonsillectomy (removing tonsils) only to be carried out in children if they have had seven bouts of tonsillitis in the previous year.[/quote] Those three are the worst, the cataracts one especially. And requiring seven bouts of tonsillitis the previous year is a little ridiculous.

[QUOTE=ironman17;31394775]Well, I guess that non-essential operations aren't really that important, and the NHS is just trying to trim their budgets, but for some odd reason this makes me feel a little uneasy. Probably the word "rationing", since I almost ALWAYS associated the word with WW2 UK and wartime on the home front in general, since those times weren't as free and ample as modern days...[/QUOTE] I agree, a lot of the surgeries listed aren't even important things. [QUOTE=Lazor;31394803]an unfortunate side effect of the massive amounts of budget cuts in the UK, not an inherent problem with Universal Healthcare[/QUOTE] I'm so glad you see it that way too, I was worried this was going to be harassed by Sarah Palin and her fanboys.

My mother has had Arthritis for almost a year now. Simply walking causes pain which becomes much worse over time. she can't run and she can't put herself under much physical exertion. she's had to stop going to a festival we used to go to anually and has had to quit a few part time work placements early because she cannot handle it. This is why: [quote] * Hip and knee replacements only being allowed where patients are in severe pain. Overweight patients will be made to lose weight before being considered for an operation. [/quote] Is the most FUCKING retarded thing I have ever had the misfortune of seeing our government announce. Pain is not quantifiable and it's effects cannot be predetermined by it either.

[QUOTE=StephenOrlov;31394964]I'm so glad you see it that way too, I was worried this was going to be harassed by Sarah Palin and her fanboys.[/QUOTE] They could stop serving lamb chops on Thursdays and they'd tell you what a failure the system is.

[QUOTE=Lazor;31394803]an unfortunate side effect of the massive amounts of budget cuts in the UK, not an inherent problem with Universal Healthcare[/QUOTE] Pretty simple explanation, really. When you gut the budget for healthcare, a surprising thing happens: Fewer people are allowed to get healthcare.

Fuck. This is not good at all.

great I'm assuming this means I'm going to stay tongue tied for ages

[QUOTE=geogzm;31396900]great I'm assuming this means I'm going to stay tongue tied for ages[/QUOTE] Eh?

Well, there goes my much needed penis reduction surgery.

[QUOTE=StephenOrlov;31394565]* Grommets to improve hearing in children only being inserted in "exceptional circumstances" and after monitoring for six months.[/QUOTE] Good thing my nephew just got his then.

[QUOTE=StephenOrlov;31394565]* [b]Grommets[/b] to improve hearing in children only being inserted in "exceptional circumstances" and after monitoring for six months.[/QUOTE] [img]http://monteney.sheffield.sch.uk/blogs/year6/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/gromit.jpg[/img] ???

Gro[b]mi[/b]t

[QUOTE=shatteredwindow;31398203]Gro[b]mi[/b]t[/QUOTE] Sorry, I couldn't hear because of a problem with my ear that the NHS is now unable to solve due to recent news.

Tonsillitis can kill, I don't understand what's going through the minds of whoever decided to do this.

[QUOTE=Lazor;31394803]an unfortunate side effect of the massive amounts of budget cuts in the UK, not an inherent problem with Universal Healthcare[/QUOTE] Yeah and it doesn't help that everyone and their fucking mothers are on benefits.

I think this is further proof that a fully 100% privatized system is the best. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go have my bullshit removed for $80k

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;31398304]Sorry, I couldn't hear because of a problem with my ear that the NHS is now unable to solve due to recent news.[/QUOTE] No I think you got an operation but they gave you a lobotomy instead. I dunno I'm not very witty.

[quote]Overweight patients will be made to lose weight before being considered for an operation.[/quote] I hope this means obese people, because after adolescence, being slightly overweight may reduce health risks. [editline]29th July 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Biotoxsin;31398351]Tonsillitis can kill, I don't understand what's going through the minds of whoever decided to do this.[/QUOTE] It's pretty bloody unlikely, usually in the cases of chronic tonsillitis in people in rural areas who don't necessarily have access to medical professionals.

Having a hip replacement and another one coming in about a year, having to wait to get it done is extremely unpleasant. The pain can be excruciating. I was hoping I'd get my right hip replaced this summer however, the doctor said the X-rays didn't show enough deterioration so he wasn't comfortable cutting off my still "somewhat decent" hip in an irreversible surgery despite the fact that I'm still in pain and now out of medicine. Whereas my new metal hip is amazing and 90% pain free.

What's the point? The PCTs won't even exist by 2012.