Barriers to joint replacement surgery
This briefing finds that almost a fifth (19%) of integrated care boards (ICBs) in England are rationing joint replacement surgery by disadvantaging patients with a higher body mass index (BMI). A further 54.7% have policies that restrict or alter access to surgery in some other way for those with overweight or obesity. Not only are these policies unfair, but they also contradict National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and government policy.