Doctors brand new scans rules 'unfair'

Anger at retrospective rejections - but hospital trust says there's no risk to patients and it's in line with rest of NHS

- Phil Corrigan

FAMILY doctors have criticised the 'unfair' rejection of ultrasound referrals to reduce a hospital’s waiting list.

University Hospitals of North Midlands has carried out a revalidation exercise for non-obstetric ultrasounds, meaning some patients have been taken off the waiting list if they do not meet revised acceptance criteria.

This has helped the trust achieve a 'significant' reduction in the number of people waiting for a scan, from more than 15,500 in June to just 10,563 now.

But North Staffordshire Local Medical Committee, which represents GPs in the area, says it is unfair the revised criteria have been applied retrospectively, claiming some patients had been waiting over six months for a scan.