Croydon's Primary Care Trust is slashing the number of minor operations it carries out in a bid to save money and resources.

Surgical procedures such as hysterectomys, grommet installation and varicose vein treatments have been reduced by the PCT.

New criteria has been set out by the trust which mean treatment for complaints such as tonsilitis, glue ear, benign skin lesions and birth marks will not be routinely available through GP referrals.

Procedures will still be offered to patients where evidence shows it would be "of benefit" and the new arrangements - which have already been implemented - will not affect people who need specialist care, a PCT spokesman said.

Dr Tim Crayford, medical director and director of public health at Croydon PCT, said: "It is, in part, due to money but it is more about wasting money on treatments that will not be beneficial to the patient.

"This does not mean it will be more difficult to get referrals. Neither does it mean people will have to wait longer for referrals, just that patients will be offered procedures if it will benefit them.

"A classic example of this is hysterectomys to treat heavy menstruation, which costs the NHS millions of pounds each year. There is an alternative treatment that costs a 20th of the price but has the same results.

"If we have two treatments which do the same thing but have different costs we should be obligated to choose the cheaper one. We are, after all, a publicly-funded body."

Cosmetic surgery may only be offered if there is an adverse physical side-effect to the complaint such as impaired vision, which could rule out birth marks and other skin complaints where a patient may benefit emotionally or mentally.

Dr Crayford added: "Of course, if a GP feels strongly that the criteria are not appropriate for one of their patients, we have a system in place for considering patients' needs on an individual basis."

One of the procedures which will not be offered routinely is tonsillectomy for sore throats because it makes only a small improvement to patients' symptoms and because the expensive operation can sometimes result in serious complications. However, it may still be used in exceptional circumstances.

Croydon PCT has reviewed its policy - called Clinically Effective Commissioning - along with other trusts in south west London following guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

A Croydon mum, who did not want to be named, said: "My son suffers with glue ear and it seems a shame that people might have to suffer months of misery before they might be considered for certain procedures.

"They might not be life-threatening conditions but something like a birth mark could affect someone's quality of life."