Can I sue the NHS for refusing me treatment for keloid scars…………?
No, I’m afraid you can’t. The NHS has to perform a delicate balancing act; they don’t have enough funds to pay for EVERY treatment that EVERY patient demands, so they have to prioritise. The two main criteria used for prioritisation are; first, clinical need – will this treatment significantly improve the quality of life of this patient, for a significant length of time? second: effectiveness – will this treatment actually be effective in treating the presenting complaint? Of the three conditions you mentioned; Tattoo removal will not usually make any significant improvement to a patients quality of life; tattoos are self-inflicted, aren’t usually causing any significant damage or impairment other than being unsightly, and most tattoos can be concealed by clothing or make-up, so most PCAs won’t fund tattoo removal. “sex change”[sic] WILL significantly improve the quality of life for the patient, and IS effective (it has a 98% success rate, higher than almost any other medical treatment
