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"Lack of funding for cryotherapy for my wife"

About: Bromley PCT Orpington Hospital / General surgery

(as a carer),

My wife suffers intense pain in the back.

For the past approx 10yrs she has had cryotherapy which has given her a few months relief. This does not use drugs, but a machine that looks like an oversize battery charger to freeze nerves in the back.

The consultant doing this has been very helpful. The machine itself we are told is nearly 30 yrs old.

NHS Bromley, in their lack of wisdom, have decided no longer to fund this. This means, quoting the consultant, that about 200 people can no longer benefit from this treatment. The only alternative he could offer was yet more drugs!

How on earth can it be cheaper to keep dishing out drugs, that are less effective, than to use a machine once every 5 months that uses a small amount of electricity? The alternative will also involve more visits to the GP.

So the result of their decision is, More Pain, More Drugs and More Expense. Unbelievable!!

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Responses

Response from Molly Baack, Associate Director of Communications, South London Healthcare NHS Trust 12 years ago
Molly Baack
Associate Director of Communications,
South London Healthcare NHS Trust
Submitted on 03/10/2011 at 15:27
Published on Care Opinion at 16:26


Thank you for posting your comment. I am very sorry that your wife is no longer able to access this treatment. I have spoken to the department, and funding has been stopped by our commissioners, who are unable to fund a replacement machine. I believe this has been taken up with our commissioners (Bromley PCT).

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