HUDDERSFIELD patients have been hit with more bad news.

They will no longer get hospital treatments and investigations for a range of conditions commonly seen by GPs.

The moves, announced this week, will save the town's two primary care trusts about £500,000 a year.

But health chiefs say the decision is based on clinical effectiveness, not cost- cutting.

People will no longer be referred to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for surgical treatments or investigative procedures in all cases of the following:

* Varicose vein surgery.

* Insertion of grommets for the treatment of `glue ear'.

* Tonsillectomy.

* Spinal X-rays for low back pain.

* Treatment of abnormal menstrual bleeding.

* Sinus X-rays.

The announcement has been greeted with anger in some quarters.

Jane Taylor Dutton, a 41-year-old florist from Almondbury, has been suffering with varicose veins in her left leg since she was 18.

Her doctor at the Junction Surgery in Moldgreen had referred her to see a consultant in May.

But when he followed the case up he was told his patient wouldn't be seen.

Mrs Taylor Dutton said: "How can someone in an office dictate whether or not I should see a consultant?

"My GP has got years of experience. If he thinks I need to see a consultant then surely I should see a consultant.

"This is the thin end of the wedge - and there's going to be plenty more to come.

"They're going through everything they can to find where they can save money.

"There are now more administrators in the NHS than clinical staff.

"It's got to be a significant cost, otherwise they wouldn't be taking it out. So, if it is a significant cost, it's going to affect an awful lot of people.

"They're not prepared to pay for any varicose vein treatment. The only time you can get a referral to see a consultant is when the varicose veins are ulcerated, have been bleeding or are bleeding.

"The thing that really annoys me is that if I wanted to go private I could get it done next week."

After being told the news by her GP she said: "I was so, so disgusted. I couldn't believe it; I felt I should do something. I felt so angry, not for myself but for others."

The changes follow a recent clinical effectiveness review.

A spokesman for the Huddersfield and South Huddersfield PCTs said: "The review has shown that around £500,000 a year is spent on treatments that are not proved to be clinically effective.

"The review concluded that there was insufficient evidence of clinical effectiveness to justify the continued referral for surgical treatments or investigative procedures in all cases.

"The above treatments and investigations will be subject to restrictive referral and treatment criteria. There will be a reduction in the number of planned, non-urgent referrals to hospital.

"More patients will be treated in primary care when it is safe and effective to do so."

Dr Sohail Bhatti, Medical Director for the trusts, said: "Based on guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the Royal Colleges it is clear many patients do not benefit from these procedures.

"This change is about ensuring that the care delivered is done according to the best available evidence."

Kevin Holder, chief executive of the trusts, said: "We have agreed this policy change with colleagues and consultants at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust.

"Primary care trusts are required to ensure the highest possible quality of care for patients.

" This includes making difficult decisions about reducing or stopping treatments which are not proven to be clinically effective for many patients."