NHS

bosses have faced criticism for rationing cataract surgery while spending money elsewhere.

From next month, for example, they will pay for a controversial drug to prevent HIV, which will be offered to up to 10,000 high-risk patients such as gay men and sex workers.

Known as Prep, it disables the HIV virus before it can take over the body, although it does not prevent the spread of sexual diseases such as gonorrhoea.

Bed-blocking costs the NHS enough to fund 50,000 cataract operations, while health tourism is estimated to cost up to £2billion a year.

The NHS has also been hit by ‘revolving door’ scandals in which executives ‘retire’ for 2 hours before being rehired in the same role.

This will now be ended under new rules from the Department of Health that allow retiring staff back into the same hospital under only exceptional circumstances.