NHS North of Tyne is responsible for planning and commissioning (buying) health services for residents across North of Tyne.
Why does my GP or Consultant have to apply for IFR for me?
An IFR is a request for funding for an individual episode of healthcare that currently falls outside the contracts we have in place. The request may be for any type of healthcare: a service, a piece of equipment/aid or a specific treatment or medicine. Your GP or Consultant might consider that you have a condition that needs treatment where:
- NHS north of Tyne does not have a contract to provide a type of healthcare
- It has been decided by NHS North of Tyne that a treatment cannot generally be funded
- An individual has a specific healthcare problem
What is the referral process?
- Your GP or Consultant will submit an electronic request using an online system for funding for your treatment
- The online system details a number of treatments that list the criteria you need to meet for the funding to be approved
- If you do not meet the criteria your GP or Consultant would need to tell us if you have any exceptional clinical circumstances
How are decisions made?
- All the information provided is considered by the Medical Director or Deputy Medical Director at NHS North of Tyne and a decision is made
- An email is sent to your GP or Consultant advising them that a decision has been made and asking them to login to the online system to see the decision. You will also receive a paper copy of the decision so you are aware of what has been declined
- If the Medical Director or the Deputy Medical Director is not able to make a decision then the request is taken to a panel for a decision
Who will be able to see my personal information?
Throughout the process, only those people who are involved in processing your IFR or making a decision will be able to access the system. This is done by the use of strict access controls and the system is protected by secure technology to prevent potential unauthorised access. When the request is considered by a Panel they do not have your personal information – this is removed by the IFR administrator.
Where can i get further information?
You can contact your GP (Secretarial Team) or Consultant.
See below a list of procedures that come under the IFR bracket:
New policy inclusions implemented with effect from 1 April 2016
- Autologous cartilage transplantation (treatment is not routinely funded)
- Bone morphogenetic proteins
- Bunions
- Cervical spinal disc prosthesis (treatment is not routinely funded)
- Discectomy for lumbar spine prolapse
- Dupuytrens contracture
- Epidural injections for lumbar back pain
- Exogen ultrasound bone healing
- Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for planta fasciitis (treatment is not routinely funded)
- Facet joint injection
- Hip prosthesis and resurfacing
- Knee arthroscopy
- Trigger finger
Existing procedures
- Breast Augmentation
- Breast prosthesis removal and/or replacement
- Breast Reduction
- Gynaecomastia
- Inverted nipple correction
- Mastopexy
- Breast asymmetry
- Autologous serum eye drops
- Excimer laser for cases with poor refraction after corneal transplant or cataract surgery
- Hair removal (hirsutism)
- Removal of tattoos
- Resurfacing procedures: dermabrasion, chemical peels and laser treatment
- Abdominoplasty / apronectomy
- Blepharoplasty
- Circumcision
- Face lift or brow lift
- Liposuction
- Pinnaplasty
- Removal of benign skin lesions including scars
- Removal or lipoma (ta)
- Repair of lobe of external ear
- Rhinoplasty
- Thigh lift, buttock lift and arm lift, excision of redundant skin or fat
- Ganglia
- Hair grafting – Male pattern baldness
- Cholecystectomy (for asymptomatic gall stones)
- Hyperhidrosis treatment with botulinum toxin
- Tonsillectomy
- Varicose veins in the leg
- Reversal of male/female sterilisation
- Infertility treatment
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Vaginoplasty, labial vulvoplasty and vulvar lipoplasty
- Fertility preservation for cancer patients
- Standard insulin pump
- Open MRI