Interventions A to Z

The Evidence-based interventions programme was developed in 2018 to help ensure a national approach to quality improvement takes place and that best practice is spread across the healthcare system.

In the 2022/2023 financial year the EBI programme has ensured over half a million inappropriate or unnecessary interventions have been avoided.

In September 2024 the EBI programme was adopted as standard operating procedure by the NHS. There are no plans to develop any new guidance in the near future.

A

Removal of adenoids for treatment of glue ear

Appendicectomy without confirmation of appendicitis

MRI scan of the hip for arthritis

Diagnostic coronary angiography for low risk, stable chest pain

Arthroscopic surgery for meniscal tears

Angioplasty for PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) in stable angina

B

Breast reduction

Blood transfusion

Removal of benign skin lesions

Fusion surgery for mechanical axial low back pain

Injections for isolated lower back pain without sciatica

Low back pain imaging

Breast prosthesis removal

Referral for bariatric surgery

Needle biopsy of prostate

Surgical intervention for Bladder Outflow Obstruction (BOO)

Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) single post instillation of mitomycin C (SPI-MMC)

C

Chalazia removal

Carpal tunnel syndrome release

Diagnostic coronary angiography for low risk, stable chest pain

Appropriate colonoscopy in the management of hereditary colorectal cancer

Cholecystectomy

Cystoscopy for uncomplicated lower urinary tract symptoms

Exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) for screening for coronary heart disease

Pre-operative chest x-ray

Liver function, creatinine kinase and lipid level tests (Lipid lowering therapy)

Repeat Colonoscopy

Shared decision making for cataract surgery

Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis screening

Penile circumcision

PSA Testing for men aged 80 years and above

D

Dupuytren’s contracture release in adults

Dilatation & curettage for heavy menstrual bleeding

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) use in diabetic retinopathy referral

E

Upper GI endoscopy

Early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in acute gallstone pancreatitis without cholangitis

Exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) for screening for coronary heart disease

Pre-operative electrocardiogram (ECG)

F

Fusion surgery for mechanical axial low back pain

Lumbar radiofrequency facet joint denervation

G

Removal of adenoids for treatment of glue ear

Grommets for glue ear in children

Ganglion excision

Glaucoma referral criteria

H

Haemorrhoid surgery

Hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding

Helmet therapy for treatment of positional plagiocephaly/brachycephaly in children

Repair of minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia

Non-visible haematuria

I

Injections for isolated lower back pain without sciatica

Low back pain imaging

K

Knee arthroscopy for patients with osteoarthritis

Knee MRI for suspected meniscal tears

Knee MRI when symptoms are suggestive of osteoarthritis

Surgical removal of kidney stones

L

Lumbar radiofrequency facet joint denervation

Lumbar discectomy

Liver function, creatinine kinase and lipid level tests (Lipid lowering therapy)

M

MRI scan of the hip for arthritis

Dilatation & curettage for heavy menstrual bleeding

Hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding

Arthroscopic surgery for meniscal tears

Knee MRI for suspected meniscal tears

O

Knee arthroscopy for patients with osteoarthritis

Knee MRI when symptoms are suggestive of osteoarthritis

Vertebral augmentation for painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) use in diabetic retinopathy referral

P

Early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in acute gallstone pancreatitis without cholangitis

Helmet therapy for treatment of positional plagiocephaly/brachycephaly in children

Pre-operative chest x-ray

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test

Needle biopsy of prostate

Penile circumcision

PSA Testing for men aged 80 years and above

R

Surgical intervention for chronic rhinosinusitis

Investigation and onward referral of women with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs)

S

Removal of benign skin lesions

Arthroscopic shoulder decompression for subacromial pain

Scans for shoulder pain and guided injections for shoulder pain

Snoring surgery (in the absence of obstructive sleep apnoea)

Surgical intervention for chronic rhinosinusitis

T

Tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis

Trigger finger release in adults

Troponin test

Surgical intervention for Bladder Outflow Obstruction (BOO)

Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) single post instillation of mitomycin C (SPI-MMC)

U

Cystoscopy for uncomplicated lower urinary tract symptoms

Investigation and onward referral of women with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs)

Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) single post instillation of mitomycin C (SPI-MMC)

V

Varicose vein interventions

Vertebral augmentation for painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures

X

Pre-operative chest x-ray

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