Sir Lancelot
Striker
So it's a load of shite then.
No.
For the nebby ones.
Eighteen years ago I required a minor procedure which could be done as an outpatient and which would require about one hour of theatre time. My GP refused to refer me quoting that I was overweight. He offered no advice for remedying that situation. No advice as to how much weight he would want me to lose before referrring. Nothing.
As time went on I became increasingly incapacitated by the problem, which resulted in my becoming unfit for work about eighteen months ago. I’m currently in the support group for esa, and get the highest rate for care and mobility of pip.
Eighteen months ago my GP agreed to refer me to a surgeon as the problem had become so severe, but shortly before having surgery, which would now be major surgery and include a two night stay in hospital, rather than a day patient going home an hour after surgery, my mother was diagnosed as terminally ill. My surgery was due to take place but I cancelled it as I would be incapacitated for six weeks following the surgery and I wanted to be available to help Mam and Dad. Mam died the day after my surgery was scheduled.
A couple of months later, my surgery was rearranged. Shortly before it was due to take place I was diagnosed with AF. Of course, my surgery was cancelled. I had cardioversion a few months later with a good result.
Last week I saw the gastro consultant again, we both agreed that I’m currently not fit enough for surgery, but he will review me again in three months.
I’m taking 11 different tablets each morning, and five different tablets each evening, all at a cost to the NHS. My surgery, when it takes place will now cost substantially more than it would have cost eighteen years ago, and is far more serious than it would have been.
I understand the theory that it is more difficult, in some cases, to operate on overweight and obese people, but I feel that having a cut off of 30-35 bmi is way too strict and will result in more cases like my own. I’ve cost this country far more by having surgery refused than I would have done if I had had surgery eighteen years ago.