by Suzy Shanley

sshanley@thekmgroup.co.uk

Obese patients desperate to slim, couples trying for children and people wanting to change gender are all on the hit-list of health services to be shelved.

GPs in West Kent have been instructed to postpone all referrals for IVF treatment, gender reassignment and surgery for obesity on the NHS.

The new guidance, from the primary care trust (PCT) which is itself to be abolished in 2013, is expected to save £29 million.

GPs, who are expected to take control of health care spending once the PCTs are disbanded, have been asked to curtail referrals until at least April next year.

The announcement comes as NHS West Kent's partner in the east of the county outlined plans to stop 64 procedures, including some knee and hip replacements, tonsil operations and cataract surgery to save £19 million.

NHS West Kent PCT's chief executive, Marion Dinwoodie, has also asked GPs to consider alternatives to hospital treatment.

She said: "No one with a compelling clinical need for treatment this year will miss out but we are asking GPs to consider if referrals for treatment like gender reassignment or IVF can be delayed until next year.

"We are also working with local GPs to make sure we can find ways of treating people out of hospital, closer to home where it's appropriate to do so - creating benefits for patients and the taxpayer."

West Kent has 130,000 obese adults and 23,000 overweight children, and treating the problem is estimated to cost £10million this year alone.