Smokers and overweight patients: soft targets for NHS savings?
The practice of restricting surgery on the basis of weight or smoking status has become widespread, according to the Royal College of Surgeons, which has published a report criticising the commissioning policies of CCGs in England.
It found that over one in three CCGs in England are denying or delaying routine surgery to patients - such as hip and knee replacements - until they stop smoking or lose weight, in contravention of national clinical guidance. More....
