"Refused Treatment for my eye"

Dear 'Disgusted Service User',

Thank you for getting in contact with us to tell us about your experience. We are unable to give you a detailed response at this time and have contacted our colleagues who deal with the commissioining policy for some further information. We will respond to your post in the next 24 hours.

Best Wishes

Dear ‘Disgusted Service User’,

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments about our service, and I can only apologise that you feel your experience was not a positive one. I have taken advice from other colleagues to help answer your queries.

From the information in your post it sounds as if your referral relates to the benign skin lesions policy. The removal of benign skin lesions falls under the remit of the Low Priority Treatments Policy, which has been in existence for many years. The Policy determines those procedures which are not normally funded by the NHS. The policy covers lumps and bumps found anywhere on the body which are not thought to be cancerous. The current guidelines have been developed with the support of GPs and Consultant Dermatologists. Please find further information at the links below, copy and paste the address in the brackets into your internet webpage:

1. Low Priority Treatments Policy - February 2011 (http://www.devonpct.nhs.uk/Library/Treatments/TP02_Low%20Priority%20Treatments%20Policy_%20Final%2007.09.2011.pdf)

2. Benign Skin Lesions Removal (http://www.devonpct.nhs.uk/Library/Treatments_commissioning_policies/Benign%20skin%20lesions%20removal%20commissioning%20policy.pdf)

However, it is recognised that all patients are individual and there may be specific circumstances where funding may be appropriate and that there needs to be a process to consider individual cases.

In these circumstances an application can be made by your GP to the Restricted Treatments Funding Panel for consideration under exceptionality. The GP will be required to submit the application, providing details of your particular circumstances and also will be required to demonstrate that:

• the patient is significantly different to the general population of patients with the condition in question;

and

• and patient is significantly different to the general population of patients with the condition in question; and also will be required to demonstrate that

The panel process allows for consistent decision making in those cases which do not meet the criteria of the policy.

We understand that it can be frustrating and we would advise patients to seek further guidance from their GPs in order to take the next steps.

One of the roles of DART is to implement the policies on behalf of the Primary Care Trust. This will be based on the information provided in the referral letter from your GP. We are not in a position to go outside the commissioning policy.

I apologise for the frustration you have felt and wish you the best for the remainder of your care.

Best Wishes