§ The Earl of Kinnoullasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why patients in south-east London are being forced to have operations for varicose veins, lipomas and sebaceous cysts done privately. [HL3017]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority has no blanket restrictions on any surgical procedure. Those procedures identified by the noble Earl have been agreed locally to be of low priority given their limited clinical effectiveness on some patients. Treatment is therefore restricted to individuals who meet locally agreed eligibility criteria. These take into account the individual's clinical need and the effectiveness of the treatment in meeting that need.