THE NHS has stopped giving out free boob jobs, face lifts, and over-the-counter painkillers in a bid to save £5 million.

After an eight-week consultation doctors in Redbridge have decided to slash a number of free services to help them save money.

They were aiming to cut 30 treatments in total, but decided to keep male and female sterilisation, mole, scar, cyst removal surgery, and tummy tucks free on the NHS.

Breast reduction and “surgery for man boobs” will still be available cost-free, but NHS-funded breast enlargements are now a thing of the past.

Patients will also have to pay for things like painkillers, vitamin supplements, gluten free products, colic remedies, and cold and flu medicines, instead of getting them on prescription.

Clinical lead for Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Dr Anita Bhatia said: “We’ve had to make some tough decisions, but that’s the job we signed up for.

“These savings will help us protect the most vital services for local families, and I hope the public will understand we simply can’t afford to keep spending their NHS money on some of these things.”

Over 600 people in the borough took part in the consultation, which decided against cutting IVF treatment and weight loss surgery completely.

But 23 to 39-year-olds will now only be given one free round of IVF instead of three, and eligibility criteria will be introduced for those looking into weight loss surgery.

Fellow Redbridge GP and clinical lead Dr Sarah Heyes said: “We have been heartened that they largely agree with what we are doing – trying to save the local NHS money at a very difficult time.

“We didn’t recommend everything that we consulted on – we listened to people’s concerns around things like stopping IVF altogether and we decided to reject them.

The changes came into effect yesterday (Monday, July 10). For a full breakdown, see the website.