Requests for acupuncture at Imperial a large proportion of IFR requests

A report released with the most recent set of board papers from NHS North West London said: “Of the [1,559] IFR applications received 436 were for planned procedure with threshold (PPwT) policy type cases. The IFR applications were received when patients did not meet policy threshold and clinicians put forward an IFR based on exceptionality.

“The report highlights that a high number of these were for cosmetic procedures and alternative therapies (acupuncture). The applications for acupuncture were from one main acute provider (Imperial).”