Britain Rations Health Care

Hip replacements, cataract surgery and tonsil removal are among operations now being rationed in a bid to save the National Health Service money:

Hip replacements, cataract surgery and tonsil removal are among operations now being rationed in a bid to save the National Health Service money:

• 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.

Full article in The Independent worth reading.