90% of trusts are restricting services according to the information in the survey by GP Magazine, with the blame put on the cost-cutting culture.

Around two thirds of trusts responded to the request for data, and the results show that  tonsillectomies is the most rationed service, with around 89% of trusts rationing the procedure. Meanwhile, 66% of trusts were shown to be restricting cataract operations, while around half were limiting weight-loss surgery and hip and knee operations.

Labour have also recently completed a similar survey showing the same results, which has led to criticism from many patient groups.

The British Medical Association’s Dr Richard Vautrey said, "Patients fully understand the NHS doesn't have unlimited resources... but they don't understand, or believe it's fair, when services are provided in one area but not another.

"We're supposed to have a national health service, so there should be national consistency in service availability."

The government however deny that this is due to cost cutting, and say there is no justification for such an assertion. Health minister Simon Burns added that such rationing was “unacceptable”.

"If local health bodies stop patients from having treatments on the basis of cost alone, we will take action against them,” he said.