Royal College of Surgeons claims access to weight loss surgery on the NHS is 'inconsistent and unethical'

By: Ruth Kerrison
Created on 22nd January 2010

A report from the Royal College of Surgeons yesterday claims that access to weight loss surgery on the NHS is essentially 'apostcode lottery' and that some patients are effectively being encouraged to gain weight in order to qualify for treatment.

Last year 4,300 weight loss operations were carried out on the NHS, but according to the RCS, that only meets 2% of the need, and many morbidly obese patients are being forced to spend their savings on private treatment.

The report claims that obese people are more or less likely to receive weight loss surgery on the NHS, dependent on their geographic location, which is in direct contradiction of guidlines issued by the health watchdog NICE three years ago.

A spokesman for the NHS has countered that each PCT (Primary Care Trust) has to look at competing priorities within the local area - cancer, maternity, mental health etc, and make decisions based on that.

Weight loss surgery, which can include gastric banding, gastric bypass or gastric balloons, is widely available in private hospitals, but experts warn that these procedures should be viewed as medical intervention, rather than cosmetic surgery, and should always be treated as a last resort.

For the full story visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8470933.stm