Jeremy Hunt calls for finish to cosmetic surgical treatment on NHS

Jeremy Hunt explained: ‘We must not be undertaking cosmetic perform on the NHS.’ Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Pictures

Jeremy Hunt, the well being secretary, has expressed his robust opposition to the NHS funding cosmetic surgical treatment at a time when it is beneath heavy fiscal stress.

Hunt explained all selections need to be taken on “clinical require”, and public cash must not be employed to shell out for surgery just to increase someone’s seems.

“We must not be doing cosmetic work on the NHS,” he advised a press gallery lunch in parliament. “The selections are taken on the basis of clinical require, but I have created it really clear that I am against purely cosmetic function currently being carried out.

“There will be occasions when there is a mental health require, which the local medical doctor has said is very critical. But I do completely understand people’s reservations about some of the factors that come about.”

Cosmetic surgical procedure is seldom obtainable via the NHS, in accordance to the NHS website. It says there have to be a key physical or psychological want for the surgical treatment.

“In rare cases, a clinical commissioning group (CCG) may choose that cosmetic surgical procedure is needed to boost a person’s health, despite the fact that NHS assets are limited and waiting times are normally prolonged. For this reason, most individuals spend to have cosmetic surgery privately,” NHS Choices states.

The handful of instances exactly where cosmetic surgical procedure might be obtainable on the NHS contain breast implants to deal with extreme underdevelopment or lopsidedness breast reduction to treat back pain or shoulder pain nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) to deal with breathing problems tummy tucks to get rid of excess excess fat or skin soon after important abdominal surgical procedure and eyelid reduction to treat impacted vision. A latest situation of NHS-funded cosmetic surgery that came to public consideration was that of Josie Cunningham, a would-be model. The 23-year-previous acquired a £5,000 breast enlargement on the NHS, but later on mentioned she wanted to have them decreased due to the fact the implants had left her feeling self-conscious.

She was suggested for funding by her nearby GP. Cunningham, from Leeds, asked the NHS for the operation since she stated she was becoming bullied for becoming flat-chested.

The NHS has been rated the world’s ideal healthcare system by an global panel of professionals who rated its care superior to nations that spend far much more on well being. But medical professionals say a mixture of increasing patient demand, staff shortages, falling funding and political interference is undermining Britain’s health program.

Jeremy Hunt calls for finish to cosmetic surgical treatment on NHS