Gwent NHS set for clampdown on cosmetic surgery (From Campaign Series)

Gwent NHS set for clampdown on cosmetic surgery

11:56am Monday 23rd November 2009

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GWENT health bosses are ordering a clampdown on more than 50 low priority hospital treatments in a bid to free up operating theatre time and save money.

A range of mainly cosmetic surgeries are included in a list of 54 treatments for conditions considered as low priority for the NHS in Wales.

Known as Interventions Not Normally Funded (INNF), such treatments include tummy tucks (abdominoplasty), breast enlargement, facelifts, hair grafting for male pattern baldness, liposuction, tattoo removal, and reversal of male or female sterilisation.

These and other treatments on the INNF list are not ruled out in all circumstances, as there may be valid clinical or other reasons for proceeding.

But Aneurin Bevan Health Board wants to ensure as far as possible that they are only carried out in exceptional circumstances, as outlined in National Public Health Service for Wales guidelines.

The amount of low priority treatments carried out in Gwent hospitals has been rising in recent years, and an estimated 5,700 will have been performed by the end of the current financial year.

It had been thought that more than 4,600 INNF operations were performed in Gwent last year, at a cost of almost £1.2 million.

But new figures have revealed the true figure to be more than 5,500.

Assuming a proportionate rise, the cost would have been nearer £1.4m.

A report to health board members warns that minimising INNF treatments may not result in significant financial savings, because the theatres will still be being used.

But action on INNF procedures will give surgical teams more time to carry out higher priority operations, and thus help with meeting waiting times targets, and any money saved can be invested in this area.

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