English treatment is off table for patients

PATIENTS from the Lothians are no longer being offered the option of treatment in England to avoid lengthy waits.

The halt on treatment south of the Border was introduced after NHS Lothian chief executive James Barbour announced he had launched a probe into claims patients were offered surgery appointments in England, and then removed from figures on waiting list targets when they declined.

It was claimed a number of patients had been offered surgery in Harrogate and Northumberland, and while they remained on the waiting list when they declined, they were removed from the list of patients waiting more than 18 weeks.

At last week’s health board meeting, members heard treatment in England was no longer offered.

Prof Barbour is to submit a report to Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.