Medical Treatment Bans Common in UK Health System

The bans themselves have been banned, but ...

A third of local health authorities are still imposing virtual 'blanket bans' on certain treatment including hernia operations, IVF, varicose vein removal and even hip and knee replacements, according to a survey of GPs.

Last November Andrew Lansley, as Health Secretary, banned primary care trusts (PCTs) and health commissioning groups from imposing across-the-board restrictions, describing them as "unacceptable".

He said patients should always be able to be treated if their doctors said they needed it.