More than a dozen surgical procedures could be halted by the NHS in a bid for efficiency savings. Tummy tucks and liposuction, for example, could disappear as an option with the health service seeking to get value for money.
The Government is looking to cut costs and health chiefs have been asked to crack down on examples of "wasteful" spending. The proposed cuts fit into a wider push for savings within the Government as chancellor Jeremy Hunt aims to fill what he calls the "fiscal black hole" of up to £50bn in public finances.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the NHS medical director, said there was a big move under way to improve efficiency and focus on the most cost-effective treatments. Currently, there are 7.1 million people are on the NHS waiting list for procedures – a new record.
