can someone plese help

[tinkerboom]

Im under Walsall and my gp refered me last week after me using the pct to get it done, i received a letter saturday off pct telling me i was being offered nhs weight specialist managment service a one-one programme for 24 weeks with a multidisciplinary team and had to wait for an appointment . I called the hospital out of curiosity to see what the waiting time is to start the course, and they have told em something completly diffrent, they told me i had been put on LEVEL 4 with no explanations at all and was for 12 months !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can anybody please explain to me as im really upset today and i dont understand what this LEVEL 4 means thankyou so much for taking time to read this xxx

 

[gaelic girl]

Hi i'm so sorry i can't help as i don't know the answer but didn't want to read and run. I'm sure someone will be along soon to help and i hope you get it clarified soon and its good news xx

 

[Bev]

I don't understand either, but try our Julie, 'Phatmomma'... if you send a private message, she is sure to come back to you and she is a very experienced lady with all things WLS.

Love and hugs xxx

 

[phatmomma]

Tinkerboom i don't know what a 'level 4' is, but i do know that Walsall PCT patients (those that are funded by Walsall) have to jump through weight management hoops to get their surgery. My suggestion to you is to dry your eyes, get a nice cup of tea and then work out your strategy.

I don't think its going to make a difference if you go to your gp. Best plan of action is to wait for your first weight management appointment then go along and see what's what. I know a few Walsall people who've done the weight management then they get to see Dr Hartland who decides if they are going to refer them for wls.

I hope this helps, if you have any other questions perhaps ask K8ybear who has recently done the weight management programme and had her surgery also xxx

 

[phatmomma]

I don't understand either, but try our Julie, 'Phatmomma'... if you send a private message, she is sure to come back to you and she is a very experienced lady with all things WLS.

Love and hugs xxx

Darn it where's Lisa and Wendy when i need them! See girls, Bev says i'm a laydeeeeeee Must be true cos Bev tells no fibs xxx

 

[dawny]

ha ha ha shes also VERY diplomatic julie,lol.
im only joking hun, you are a lady, honest.
hugs xxx

 

[tinkerboom]

Thankyou i dont understand the hospital have said basically it will be the people off the weight managment team that will refer me , there saying there are diffrent tiers of this course and depending what category im put in depends what help i receive im so sorry if i am doing anyones nut in lol i just want to get things straight in my head so i no were im going thanyou xxx

 

[phatmomma]

Tinkerboom don't worry about doing heads in! The whole process is so flipping confuddled at times

Ask when you go and see what they say, make notes as well as sometimes things are said so quickly it's easily forgotten xxx

 

[Lola K]

Hi Tinkerboom.... I live in Kent, so have no idea about your PCT... however, last November my GP referred me to 'Tipping the Balance' a lifestyle change group - I had battled with him to refer me for surgery, he kept saying the PCT would say no, even though I qualified under 'NICE' guidlines. I had my first appointment in February, and they said if I showed I was serious about changing my lifestyle over the coming months they would agree to refer me to the PCT for funding. So I played by the rules and in April, they agreed to support my GP's referal to the PCT - however, my GP then refused to refer me as it hadn't been six months that I had attended the clinic!! - I wrote a letter of complaint and the GP finally referred me to the PCT and in May I got accepted for funding.
My first appointment at Charing Cross hospital was in August, and I am due to meet the surgeon on 12 November - I am hopeful to have my op before christmas.

My point to you is please don't be negative about changing your life style... you may have to prove you are serious before you can be funded on the NHS. Surgery isn't a magic wand, and the more preparation and information you can get will all benefit you in the long run. I know you will be frustraited, as some people seem to be handed it on a plate.... but just play the game and hopefully you will be rewarded at the end ;-)

Good luck hun .... hope I haven't bored you too much with my journey so far!! ;-) xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[cah-ching]

Thankyou i dont understand the hospital have said basically it will be the people off the weight managment team that will refer me , there saying there are diffrent tiers of this course and depending what category im put in depends what help i receive im so sorry if i am doing anyones nut in lol i just want to get things straight in my head so i no were im going thanyou xxx

You have it spot on.There are various levels you have to reach within the Weight Management team ... each level has it's own strategy e.g. health trainer assistance, prescription drugs for weight loss etc. It's only when you've exhausted ALL the options you then go up to Level 4 which is where they start to consider you for Weight Loss Surgery. It isn't your doctor that refers you it is your weight management counsellor that you are ascribed to.... the whole process can last for years if you start at Level 1 and even at Level 4 there are hoops to jump through such as tests and psychological assessments etc. before the matter of funding comes into play! I was told by my practice nurse (because my doc didn't have a clue!) that Walsall don't have any money in their coffers and are not funding WLS (things may have since changed) so there was little point in me continuing to push for WLS and instead work with a Health Trainer ... who was Ok.. but i didn't lose diddly squat.

Walsall PCT are an utter disgrace. :sigh:
I, due to ultimately money concerns had a band done privately. I could have had the bypass at a stretch, but was worried about the finances further down the line so had a band done. I'm 10kgs lighter than I was in March, but I know I'd have lost lots by now with the bypass, but alas I was more or less refused support from my PCT even though Walsall only use the NICE guidelines and I qualified on all counts.

I hope your experience was better than my own. x :hug99:

 

[Lola K]

cah-ching, well done 10kg is a great acheivement. Some people don't lose quickly with a bypass.... and statistics over a 2 year period are about the same as a bypass ;-)

Since the new government, and the cuts it's imposing (I'm not doing the politics thing on here!!) - I know a lot of PCT's have put a halt on non essential surgery (non essential to whom??? now thats the question?) and unfortunately, WLS falls in to this catagory.

But well done to you Cah-ching... and good luck to you Tinkerboom, whatever your options are xxxx

 

[Zionaka]

Sorry that things are not moving along as you'd hope.

I'd call them back and ask them to explain it to me. Don't get off the phone till you have the answers.

They have no right to speak in Jargon that you don't understand.