Exclusive - GPs challenge - PCT rationing plans.

GP investigation finds funding requests by GPs increase but approval falls.

PCT restrictions on access to NHS treatment has led to a huge rise in GPs having to submit requests for patients to access care, GP has found.

Individual patient funding requests are made by GPs on behalf of patients for treatments that PCTs will not routinely offer.

The number of such requests rose by 17 per cent from 2008/9 (53,000) to 2010/11 (62,000), according to responses from 103 PCTs to our request under the Freedom of Information Act. Over the same period, the proportion of requests approved fell by 22 per cent, from 59 per cent in 2008/9 to 46 per cent in 2010/11.

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