Huge increase in number of operations for the morbidly obese

It has been widely reported in the news today that there has been a more than 10 fold increase in the number of gastric bands and gastric bypass operations performed on the NHS in the last few years.

The NICE guidelines state that Gastric surgery should only be offered to the morbidly obese, typically those whose BMI is over 50 or lower if they have some other medical problem like sleep apnea or diabetes.

However, all too often the Primary Care Trusts who have to approve the funding for gastric operations refuse.

Typically, a gastric bypass operation will cost in the region of £8,000 to £10,000. Some PCT’s refuse to spend this relatively small amount of money on the operation preferring to simply offer diet and exercise advice.

In my view, this is an incredibly short-sighted way of viewing a serious problem.

People who meet the NICE criteria for gastric bypass operation are dangerously overweight. These patients have spent years trying to control their weight through diet and exercise but have reached the point where this alone will not work. Gastric surgery is the only option open to them.

Bariatric surgery represents value for money in most cases. If a patient has a BMI of over 50 it is likely that they will go on to suffer from complications of their weight such as sleep apnea, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. All of these complications have to be treated on the NHS often at significantly higher cost than the original gastric operation which the patient requested.

In my view, the case has clearly been made out for PCTs to allow gastric bypass operations in all situations where the NICE guideline state that surgery should be performed.

If you require bariatric surgery but your PTC has rejected funding for the operation we may be able to help you. Contact us now.