The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) is really getting concerned about the fall that is being marked in every passing year in the number of patients who are directed to hospitals by GPs.

Yes, according to RCS, "Rationing by stealth" is hitting harder the NHS as very less GPs today refer their patients to go to hospitals to get themselves treated.

Moreover, Department of Health statistics also highlighted the number of referrals made by GPs, which has been notified to be at a high of 4.7% in this year till July as compared to earlier figure in the same period in the year 2010.

On the other hand, the department said that even the number of patients who used to attend outpatient appointments has cited a fall in its figures by 2.7%.

Regarding to the situation, Professor Norman Williams, President of the RCS said that the released figures are really disturbing and are enough to show the severe affects of rationing by stealth across the NHS.

"Such a steep reduction in the number of referrals by GPs suggests that patients are being given limited access to specialist clinical advice and could be missing out on treatments", Prof Added in his statement.