The NHS in Mid and South Essex has a limited budget to spend on healthcare. This means we must make careful decisions about which treatments and services we can fund. Our Service Restriction Policy helps guide these decisions to ensure we use public money fairly, effectively, and based on the best available evidence.
What does this policy do?
- It sets out which treatments and services are routinely funded, and which are restricted or not funded.
- It explains how decisions are made about funding treatments, especially when:
- A treatment is new or not widely used.
- There is limited evidence that it works well.
- It is very expensive compared to the benefit it provides.
What does “restricted” mean?
Some treatments are only funded if certain eligibility criteria are met. For example, a patient may need to have tried other treatments first or meet specific health conditions.
What if I need a treatment that isn’t routinely funded?
Your doctor can apply for an Individual Funding Request (IFR). This is a special process where your case is reviewed to see if there are exceptional reasons to fund the treatment for you.
Why do we have this policy?
- To make sure NHS resources are used fairly and wisely.
- To ensure decisions are based on clinical evidence and local health needs.
- To be transparent about what we can and cannot fund.
Who is involved in making these decisions?
The policy is overseen by the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), with input from doctors, pharmacists, public health experts, and patient representatives.