The "postcode lottery" for the surgical correction of gynaecomastia in  XXXX England.

@entity1 @entity0 @entity2045 @entity9462 @entity458
INTRODUCTION: @entity2045 ( @entity2045 ) criteria for funding of gynaecomastia surgery are: the @entity1 should be post-pubertal, have a BMI   <=  25  kg/m(2), endocrine and drug causes and @entity0 should be excluded and the @entity1 should demonstrate @entity458 . We evaluated how @entity9462 funding for gynaecomastia surgery varies between Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England and whether there is a "postcode lottery". METHODS: The gynaecomastia surgery policies for 211 CCGs in @entity9462 England were reviewed against the @entity2045 criteria and grouped according to their funding policies: group 1 (if criteria met, funding approved); group 2, (if criteria met, prior approval required); group 3 (no criteria, individual funding request only) and group 4 (no funding). RESULTS: Policies were available for all CCGs. Fifty-nine (28.0%) CCGs were in group 1, 87 (41.2%) in group 2, 44 (20.9%) in group 3 and 21 (10.0%) in group 4. Of those in groups 1 and 2, five (3.4%) CCGs used all six @entity2045 criteria. Approximately 70% CCGs with criteria (in groups 1 and 2) stipulated that the @entity1 should be post-pubertal, have a BMI   <=  25  kg/m(2) and endocrine and drug causes should be excluded. @entity0 should be excluded in 51.4% and the @entity1 should show @entity458 in 13.7% CCGs. Of those in groups 1 and 2, 118 (80.8%) CCGs specified additional criteria. CONCLUSIONS: CCGs do not use the @entity2045 criteria uniformly and restrict surgery according to their own criteria. Overall, there is a "postcode lottery" for gynaecomastia surgery within @entity9462 England.
