SOUTH Essex clinical commissioning groups are proposing to cut a range of health services, including spinal injections for back pain sufferers.

Castle Point, Rochford and Southend clinical commissioning groups want to restrict services for spinal injections, removal of male breast tissue caused by gynaecomastia and a treatment for astigmatism - an eye condition that causes blurred or distorted vision.

NHS Southend Clinical Commisssioning Group chairman Dr José Garcia Lobera said: “The NHS Five Year Forward View outlines three key areas for change that are needed if the NHS is going to be sustainable now and in the future, which are health and wellbeing, quality of care and NHS finance and efficiency. We must therefore ensure treatments and procedures provided locally are based on good clinical evidence and value. This has led us to suggest some changes to our service restriction policy and we want local people to have a look at these proposed changes and let us know what they think.”

The groups say despite the embarrassment that can be caused by the condition, there is little evidence removal of enlarged male breast tissue leads to better mental and physical health,

In addition they claim there is little evidence spinal steroid injections help back pain.

Patients who undergo cataract surgery who also have astigmatism will not routinely have Toric lenses fitted instead of the normal artificial lenses generally used. These lenses deal with astigmatism as well as replacing the cloudy natural lens affected by cataracts.

If the proposals are adopted people wanting treatment for these conditions would have to apply for special funding.

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Healthwatch Essex, said: “It’s right that clincial commissioning groups ensure that treatments and procedures are based on good clinical evidence. But just as importantly is the need to gather the experience of those impacted by these treatments.

“We would urge anyone likely to be affected by the proposed changes to share their views with the CCGs as part of this consultation, so that they have the full range of evidence available to them in order to make the right decisions.”

People are invited to offer their views either through an online survey, a printed survey or by attending a workshop with GPs.

Full details, including the consultation document, can be found by logging onto at southendccg.nhs.uk and castlepointandrochfordccg.nhs.uk