Tougher policy on which patients get surgery has been brought into parts of the East Midlands to save money.
NHS Derby City and NHS Derbyshire County want to cut the number of “marginally effective” procedures.
The new rules apply to operations such as hip replacements and will ensure “the greatest health gain for the population,” NHS bosses said.
But Dr David Williams, who represents GPs, said the move may cause more problems for patients in the long run.
Under one of the new regulations, a patient must be a non-smoker and comply with weight restrictions to qualify for a varicose vein operation.
Hip replacements are to be limited to cases where there is “evidence that conservative means have failed to alleviate pain and disability” and the patient experiences pain, stiffness and reduced mobility.
Dr David Black, director of public health at NHS Derbyshire County, said: “The NHS has never been able to provide every treatment and service that everybody might want. It has never been able to do that and never will. No health service can do that.
“It is about making sure we use our resources very carefully and meet the needs of the people of Derbyshire the very best we can.”
Grommets for children with hearing problems will only be used if the ear infection problems have persisted for three months and the child suffers from a delay in speech development or behavioural problems.
Private care
A tonsillectomy will only be performed if there is suspected malignancy, more than one abscess and acute upper airways obstruction.
The NHS hopes to save £1.3m in Derby and £1m in the county annually from the changes.
Dr Williams, of the Derbyshire Local Medical Committee, said: “We may be delaying problems for the future.
“If you don’t do people’s varicose vein surgery until they get a change in their legs – which is what they are asking us to wait for – then we will increase the number of people with leg ulcers in the future which is a painful long-term condition that takes a long time to treat.
“Private health care may be one of the options for that patient, which is fine if you can afford the procedures, but it’s not fine if you can’t.”