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britain's big fat bill

princess4d4

princess4d4

Active Member
After watching this channel four programme tonight i have to say i was fairly disgusted at the reforms that have been placed and the fact that to reach the criteria for the wls is not even available in the majority of the country when will they realise that this life saving surgery will save the nhs billions a year and make it easier to access and not harder :sigh:
 
I watched this too, and feel awful for the people just starting on this journey (I am having a sleeve on 3rd jan) but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! If I was just starting it might make me think twice - due to all the loops to go through especially when the loops aren't even available to go through!!!! Some one soon in the NHS needs to sort this out because in the long term the benifits will far out weigh the costs now - not only to the NHS but on a personal level to each patient and their famalies!!!
 
I can totally understand why you did nicola1723!! I wish I could of afforded to do the same!! But hopefully I'm nearly there now - if I had of gone private I think I would be done by now!!! Xx
 
I'm lucky my private healthcare paid 75% for me. NHS gave me 18 months to 2 years before I'd be considered, private was done and dusted in 3 months! Important as I want to have iVF and I'm 35 now.
 
How long post op are you Nicola??? I hope it all works out well for you, and I wish you the best of luck with IVF. It took me 3 years to fall pregnant with my son, we were starring to go down the medical route for tests ect...... I can understand a small amount of how hard it can be!! I now also have a daughter - and fell pregnant with her the first time we tried!!! I know I am so blessed to have 2 lovely children, and hope you will feel the same very soon!!!!
 
I did hear that people on the NHS have more follow-up support than private patients, but this could vary between clinics. It is a shame that they will no longer fund most weight loss surgeries, as I agree, in the long run, there are so many benefits.
 
Ines4C said:
I did hear that people on the NHS have more follow-up support than private patients, but this could vary between clinics. It is a shame that they will no longer fund most weight loss surgeries, as I agree, in the long run, there are so many benefits.
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I agree ...with NHS the follow up is way superior...sadly private you pay your money up front and the aftercare is really quite minimal :cry:
I think each private hospital/provider should have support groups that you can attend if you wish to or need too

I asked my dietician and she says there simply isn't the room to have a support group at the Dolan Park Bromsgrove..:eek:
Mmmmm maybe that's because the great big safe they have to put all the money in needs to be shifted!!!!!!!
 
princess4d4 said:
After watching this channel four programme tonight i have to say i was fairly disgusted at the reforms that have been placed and the fact that to reach the criteria for the wls is not even available in the majority of the country when will they realise that this life saving surgery will save the nhs billions a year and make it easier to access and not harder :sigh:
Click to expand...

Hi, I missed this but caught the last five mins, since my operation on the 30th october i have stopped useing my sleep apnia machine, and stopped useing a crutch and walking stick, im hoping to not have both of my knees operated on.
i think i have saved some nhs money by having the gastric bypass.

rant over.
BBB
 
I heard about this today when I went for my 6 monthly check up Liz my surgeons nurse told me about the changes and how bad they are
Recorded the dispatches program on four on demand to watch it just gets me so mad how we have to jump through so many loops to achieve our surgery and risk our lives to get it
 
It angers me at the amount of 'flack' we receive for being fat. Yes I did put all the food in my mouth _ but what about smokers and drinkers? How much so they cost the nhs.
Totally agree that long term it saves money.
I had a sleeve 5 weeks ago, don't drink, never smoked but went private.
Rant over.
 
Wls isnt even offered on the NHS here in northern ireland even tho there is a surgeon willing to do them and who was actually taking referrals to fight it. Apparently they cant get funding for aftercare!
 
Emma7799 said:
It angers me at the amount of 'flack' we receive for being fat. Yes I did put all the food in my mouth _ but what about smokers and drinkers? How much so they cost the nhs.
Totally agree that long term it saves money.
I had a sleeve 5 weeks ago, don't drink, never smoked but went private.
Rant over.
Click to expand...


I agree.. also what about the support that people with eating disorders like anorexia get..
I know it's different to pure greed..
but be honest how many of you are fat due to pure greed..
I cannot and will not put my hand up to that one
yes I eat foods I should not eat..but I put weight on very easily
I also lose quite slowly too :/
all this said you could also add Drug addiction so much support is given for that too

Fat is and will always be seen as self inflicted..
from the age of 16 Ive been told by professionals to loose weight..if it were that easy I would have done it

Overweight people do need support like any other person with a disorder or problem :confused:

I once needed a new hip and a private surgeon said to me "Go away loose 8 stone then we will talk"
He was about 6'2" and as thin as my little finger..he knew nothing about weight problems..:(

I was in a wheelchair before a great Consultant (NHS) agreed to do surgery..It was a success I will be eternally thankful to that surgeon!!(Mr Kalique)


And what of Mr Isbister the thin guy with no compassion ...sadly he practices to this day...and his thin, rich patients must be grateful..but if you are the slightest bit overweight save your consultation money cus he wont touch you with a barge pole!!!!

I would love to have said to him..if I could loose 8 stone I would, he offered NO help or support what so ever.....:(
 
i have been seen and approved for my surgery at birmingham but its on hold while i have some other stuff checked first i for 1 never just sat and ate my issue was not eating enough i was on 1 meal a day it has taken 2 years to get me eating 3 meals a day just to even get considered for the surgery i really would hate to be at the start of the process now and feel so sorry for those who are especially in the areas where the ter3 is not even available
 
princess4d4 said:
i have been seen and approved for my surgery at birmingham but its on hold while i have some other stuff checked first i for 1 never just sat and ate my issue was not eating enough i was on 1 meal a day it has taken 2 years to get me eating 3 meals a day just to even get considered for the surgery i really would hate to be at the start of the process now and feel so sorry for those who are especially in the areas where the ter3 is not even available
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Princess, I have to echo what you said! Since being bullied about my weight at a young age I stopped eating. All through my GCSE years, college and uni I ate 1 meal a day and gradually piled on the pounds. Im 2 weeks post op and still cant get my head around eating so much. Im actually eating very very little but trying to eat 3 meals a day is bloody hard work. Previous failed diets have also been mainly due to me feeling guilty about eating anything and therefore not...

I think the way the whole WLS lottery works is pants. The NICE criteria is the same! Im extremely grateful for having had my op already (and by such a scrummy surgeon! :p)
 
i always say to peiople there are a number of reason someone might be obese its not all about food it could be medical such as a thyroid or prada willi syndrome etc people shouldnt judge and they should offer help seems its not forth coming which is such a shame many like myself cant afford to self fund and do the self funders now also have to jump through all the damn hoops
 
I think it's happened and we ask for help what takes a lot of courage and to be told no is not the best way to help
If your an alcoholic or a smoker millions paid into helping stop but for weight we get told to stop eating and exercise more what really does nothing I feel strongly that it saves money in the long term so it is a plus all around but some bureaucrats decide theses things and. We have no say
Take care all and keep your chins up to those who are on the early stages of this long hard and wonderful journey you'll get there in the end but don't give up hope and keep nagging it might change things
Rant over
 
So far my aftercare has been great with streamline. My nurse called me today to check in one week post op and I have my 2 week appointment next Wednesday and further check on jan 15th. I also have 24 access to help if I need it. My payment included a 2 year package of aftercare.
 
I have PCOS and that makes it extremely hard to lose weight. Gaining and maintaining - fine! :( Also depression which makes change (3 meals a day) harder. My friend has ME and is 'obese+' She cant cope lowering her calorie intake by much nor can she do exercise. She's 29 and uses a walking stick!! :( Yeah, I used to have the odd fish & chippy or ice cream at the beach as a very rare treat but thats about it because we couldn't afford to eat crap! I think its extremely ignorant and naive for anyone, professional or otherwise, to think that people are fat solely because they eat too much. They need to spend a day in our shoes!
 
My doctor suspects I have pcos but refused to test me for it as "there's no point at my size"... I also have suffered from bouts of anxiety and depression since my teens. No one cares if you're fat.....
 
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