Audit of Breast Reduction Surgery Provision in England reveals Postcode Lottery

Criteria for funding Breast Reduction surgery laid down by the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England vary widely. There was anecdotal evidence of a “postcode lottery” of provision of this intervention which has well-documented health benefits. We surveyed the funding criteria for BBR of all 303 Trusts in England and found that even with explicit guidelines, considerable variation in local funding criteria exists with resultant inequalities in provision. This work was presented by one of our trainees, Will Wraight, at the annual meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.