• AS a 100 per cent supporter of a publicly-funded, publicly-managed NHS, I was appalled to read that so many types of procedures and treatments will be banned for NHS patients.

It is one thing to decide not to provide ineffective procedures (those with limited clinical effectiveness), because that is based on clinical assessment.

Moreover, to decide to provide vasectomies only under local anaesthetic is OK because local anaesthetic should normally be enough for a vasectomy, again, a matter of following clinical standards.

If these will produce cost savings, that’s great. Penile implants also seem not to be clinically necessary.

However, to eliminate treatment / surgery for utero-vaginal prolapse, a problem experienced by older women, is an unacceptable cut – women with this problem can sometimes barely walk and deserve treatment.

The same is true for hearing aids, which is like saying it is OK for large numbers of people, again many aging, to be left unable to hear properly, and knee replacements for large numbers of people to be left unable to walk properly and without pain. These are outrageous decisions.

Everyone is aware of the demand under the Tory government austerity programme of the need for swingeing cuts, but I would like to see the North London Partners refusing to implement the cuts and lobbying Downing Street and getting local patients to lobby with them.

The Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group and their patients have the right approach. Everyone else should stand with them.

I do not live in the affected area right now but I was a Camden resident and worked in an office in Kentish Town for many years and am hoping to rent an office there again very soon. So I hope my views can be heard along with others’.

MARGE BERER
EC2