NHS hospitals mull new restrictions to hip and knee replacements

The availability of hip and knee replacements could become more restricted in future under new cost-cutting plans that certain NHS hospitals are discussing.

Clinical commissioning groups from Redditch and Bromsgrove, South Worcestershire and Wyre Forest are looking to reduce the number of operations they perform by only making treatment available to "severe to the upper end of moderate" cases.

This would mean only those patients whose pain interferes with their daily life and ability to sleep would be eligible, while those who have a body mass index of 35 or over would need to lose ten percent of their weight unless their problems are very severe.

Although this would deliver savings of more than two million pounds a year, the decision has come in for criticism from a number of medical charities and healthcare organisations, due to the perception that financial considerations are taking priority over patient wellbeing.

Stephen Cannon, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: "This policy is the latest demonstration of how NHS financial pressures are directly affecting patients. Delaying access to surgery also adversely affects a patient's quality of life and surgical outcomes, meaning the operation may not be as beneficial as if it had been carried out earlier."

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