The NHS in England appears to be rationing access to vital non-emergency hospital care, a review suggests.
The analysis by the Dr Foster research group looked at three key procedures - knee, hip and cataract operations.
For much of the past decade, patient numbers have been rising as would be expected with an ageing population.
But since 2010, the numbers have levelled off - with just one in eight areas now doing more hips and knees and one in five seeing rises in cataracts.
It comes amid mounting pressures on the health service.
The challenges facing A&E units have been well documented, but reports have also been emerging that non-emergency care is being squeezed too.
Colin Howie, vice president of the British Orthopaedic Association, said the findings were "very concerning".
More on this story here.
Eddie
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