WITH demand for services outstripping what the NHS can afford, smokers and the morbidly obese in West Devon will be denied routine surgery until they quit or lose weight, in a cost-cutting move by the NHS group responsible for commissioning healthcare in the area.

The Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NEW Devon CCG) this week announced a series of 'urgent and necessary' measures to address its worsening financial situation.

The CCG had a £14.5-million deficit last year, and is predicting the same for this year. With declining confidence that the CCG can meet this deficit at the end of the financial year, Rebecca Harriott, the CCG's chief officer, said it would be prioritising services in the NHS Constitution.

Morbidly obese patients will be required to lose weight prior to routine surgery, and smokers will be required to quit the habit for at least six weeks before routine surgery.

The group is also introducing criteria-based approval for routine procedures, including hernia treatment, botox injections and cataracts. Unnecessary consultant to consultant referrals will be reduced, and treatments with little or poor evidence of a successful outcome will be suspended.

Rebecca Harriott said: 'We must act to protect essential services through our busiest winter months and ensure that care is there for our patients when they really need it.

'The CCG has already begun to implement a series of measures designed to improve efficiency in the system and encourage patients to contribute to improving their own health outcomes.

'These measures bring the CCG into line with similar organisations in the NHS. However, they are not enough. The CCG is working up a series of measures to prioritise those patients most in need, while at the same time increasing efficiency in the wider system – and the CCG itself.

'Our clinical chairs – who are family doctors – and managing directors are now busy working up proposals, in collaboration with NHS England and others, so that we can submit a paper to the next governing body on November 5.'

The CCG has already saved £2-million in its running costs, but intends to cut internal costs further and prioritise the services and requirements laid out in the NHS Constitution.

This includes the likes of keeping waiting times in accident and emergency to under four hours, and being seen by a cancer specialist within two weeks from GP referral where cancer is suspected.

The proposal paper is now available on the CCG's website, http://www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk">www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk