A HEALTH watchdog says vulnerable people will be hit by cuts resulting from what it calls a “panic consultation” by NHS West Kent.

Kent and Medway Networks say that the Primary Care Trust’s (PCT) week-long consultation in December resulted in “hasty” cuts.

The PCT, which needs to save up to £29million, is asking GPs to defer referrals for IVF, gender reassignment and surgery on the obese until April this year.

Graham Hills, Operational Director at the Kent and Medway Networks said: "Some people are coming to the IVF cut-off point and now might miss out on treatment.

“People going through gender-reassignment surgery have already been through a long and difficult psychological assessment. Why are they picking on those people when there are many other groups of low priority?”

Mr Hills added: “There are some serious hard decisions having to be made. I’m not saying they’re not trying - it’s very hard, but it would have been nice to have a grown up discussion with users and carers.”

Forty-five-year-old Suzanna, from Maidstone, is a transgender woman going through treatment with NHS West Kent.

She said: “The decision isn’t suddenly going to change on March 31st - it’s likely to go on much longer and I’m very concerned. There are a lot who will be affected by this.

“Gender reassignment is a mental health issue. For me, I’m a woman trapped in a man’s body. Imagine if you were not allowed to be yourself. It is a clinical need.”

NHS response

Marion Dinwoodie, NHS West Kent’s chief executive, said: “We need to take strong action to deal with the pressures on services and finances firmly and quickly to make sure the NHS can continue to provide the valuable care people need.

“No-one with a compelling clinical need for treatment this year will miss out, but we are asking GPs to consider if referrals for treatment like gender reassignment or IVF can be delayed until next year.”

Dr James Thallon, NHS West Kent’s Medical Director, said: “We would have liked to have had longer to consult on the package of proposals for prioritising treatment set out in December, but unfortunately the urgency of the situation didn’t allow us to do so.

“However, all ideas and suggestions made were fully considered and where appropriate, built into the agreed actions.”