DOCTORS' surgeries just a few miles apart are now offering radically different NHS treatment - all because of cost cuts.

Today The Press can reveal the "postcode lottery" that is dividing our region, which means next door neighbours could end up being treated differently simply because they are registered with separate GPs.

Dr Mark Hayes, a senior partner at Tadcaster Medical Centre - one area where the postcode lottery hits hardest - said: "It's quite clear that patients are being discriminated against, not by where they live, but by where their doctor is.

"You could have people living under the same roof, some of whom could have an operation and some of whom couldn't, because of where their doctors are."

The debt-ridden North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust has introduced strict new limits on a range of hospital procedures which are now only available in exceptional cases.

These measures affect patients who are registered with GPs that come within its North Yorkshire borders, many of whom will now be denied these operations.

A Press investigation has found that patients who come under East Yorkshire and Leeds primary care trusts can access hospital treatment that those from North Yorkshire cannot.

The chaotic system means patients in the York Primary Care Trust area may still be able to access operations if they are registered with GPs in East Yorkshire and Leeds.

At the same time, patients living in the Leeds and East Yorkshire area could be denied treatment if they go to a GP in the York area.

In Wilberfoss and Kexby, near York, hundreds of patients are registered at Elvington Medical Practice - in North Yorkshire - while others go to Pocklington Group Practice, in the East Riding. Patients registered at Elvington will be denied the procedures that have been suspended by the North Yorkshire PCT - such as joint injections for back pain; bunion operations; IVF and grommets for "glue ear" - unless their case is deemed exceptional.

But patients living in the same villages who go to Pocklington's surgery - which is less than ten miles away - can be referred for these treatments because East Yorkshire PCT has agreed to fund them.

The same divide affects communities in Tadcaster and Boston Spa, which are on the border of Leeds PCT.

A spokesman for NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, the body responsible for healthcare across the region, said: "As reflected in many indicators such as life expectancy, stroke care and diabetes treatment, those living in North Yorkshire enjoy great healthcare.

"In future years we are confident that this will continue and we would expect the local health service to deliver improvements without asking other areas of Yorkshire and the Humber to foot part of their bill."


The winners and losers: What you can get - and where

Here are some treatments you will normally be denied if you are registered with a North Yorkshire or York GP.

Indefinitely suspended: Lumbar spine X-rays for lower back pain except by prior agreement with local radiologist, facet joint injections for chronic lower back pain, and treatment/removal of all non malignant skin lesions Suspended for three months: Varicose veins treatment; epidurals for chronic lower back pain; wisdom teeth extraction, joint injections which will only be treated in hospital under prior approval from the PCT; bunion surgery; vasectomies; female sterilisation; grommets; IVF; tonsillectomy; and hysterectomies for heavy periods.

* If you are registered with an East Yorkshire GP, the following operations are NOT normally funded: Laser surgery to restore circulation to heart muscle in patients with angina - but this is done in North Yorkshire Spinal chord stimulation for chronic pain Removal of wisdom teeth, unless they show signs of disease Complementary therapies, unless there is evidence of effectiveness Food allergy treatment - this is done in North Yorkshire But many of the other procedures which have been suspended in North Yorkshire ARE available in East Yorkshire, including IVF, bunions, varicose veins, joint injections and vasectomies.

* If registered with a Leeds area GP, you can get treatment for varicose veins, wisdom teeth, joint injections, bunions, ganglions, vasectomies and grommets.


Patients going private'

SOME patients are already going private because of the PCT's decision to cut back on surgical procedures - a York GP has revealed.

Dr David Lightwing, a GP at Elvington Medical Practice, said some had opted for the private sector after finding the operation they needed was now not available save in exceptional cases.

Meanwhile, Pocklington Group Practice has reported that the new arrangements has caused confusion after patients had been told in error they could not have treatment which its own PCT was willing to fund.

York MP Hugh Bayley said North Yorkshire and York PCT would get £947 million in funding next year - a rise from £870 million this year.

"Every PCT needs flexibility to match the treatments it provides with local needs," he said.

"But a basic range of NHS treatments should be provided for every patient, irrespective of where they live. I'm concerned that this is being broken down in North Yorkshire, despite record increases in funding for the NHS from the Government."

Mr Bayley said he was meeting GPs tomorrow to hear their concerns, and would meet health minister Ivan Lewis next week.

The Department of Health said it was up to PCTs to decide how to use the funding available.

North Yorkshire and York PCT said its approach to the 765,000 people registered within its borders was consistent. But there would always be some differences of approach and priority between PCTs, which would be "more apparent" at its borders, he said.


* Have you been affected by the health postcode lottery? If you have, contact The Press newsdesk on 01904 567131, or email newsdesk@ycp.co.uk