Uk bans Operations For Fat Smokers

The NHS has for quite a while now been subjecting patients to a pre-operation assessment. After breaking both my arms two years ago, i myself have had to go through many of these.
You will then have your blood pressure, pulse, height and weight checked and your nostrils swabbed. If you have been asked to bring a urine sample (hip and knee replacement surgery only) this will be tested, and you may have an ECG (Electro-Cardiograph) which takes a trace of your heart. While this happens, the nurse who is going to assess you will be reading through your hospital case notes and preparing some information leaflets.
The nurse will assess you by going through the questionnaire with you and asking further questions. This assessment also includes checking your medication and advising you about any tablets you need to stop before your operation. Now being a smoker i lied lol told them i only smoke now and again.
However, I have a Aunt who needs a heart operation and she is being refused her operation, she smokes, is overweight, but has been told she won't be getting her operation. She paid into the NHS for over 50 years, she worked for Westminister Council for over 20 years as a 'Home Helper' for old people. Now the British Medical Association has decided they will be the ones to choose who they would like to save.

i found one breakdown of what an 'assessment' is, you can view it h ere.

www.telegraph.co.uk...
www.dailymail.co.uk...
www.theguardian.com...

Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

originally posted by: Oldtimer2
Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

Socialists, Liberals and their ilk put £ or $ on a human being, NORMAL PEOPLE just want to give everyone a chance regardless of the cost, just like how the whole world wanted to save Charlie Gard

You know this story only applies to one NHS Trust in the whole UK, right? And only applies to three specific kinds of operations (knee repairs, hip replacements, and cataract treatment)?

I suspect (!) that there is some over-egging going on in the above.

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: Oldtimer2
Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

Socialists, Liberals and their ilk put £ or $ on a human being, NORMAL PEOPLE just want to give everyone a chance regardless of the cost, just like how the whole world wanted to save Charlie Gard

Socialists, liberals and their ilk gave you the NHS lol and lol. You should take your fat aunt to a private hospital instead of complaining.

Obesity and heart disease equals higher rates of death in serious operations. Yeah no let's blame the NHS and liberals because your aunt eats too much and doesn't exercise. Blame the surgeons because visceral fat and constricted arteries are impediments to surviving operations. Give her the surgical team when she's got a shorter life expectancy than a non smoking heart patient in good shape.

originally posted by: audubon
You know this story only applies to one NHS Trust in the whole UK, right? And only applies to three specific kinds of operations (knee repairs, hip replacements, and cataract treatment)?

I suspect (!) that there is some over-egging going on in the above.

No, the assessment form i showed is the only one i could find from 3 years ago. But this is now happening in ALL NHS hospitals, as i said i broke my arms two years ago and had to do FOUR assessment for my Four opertions.

The NHS will ban patients from surgery indefinitely unless they lose weight or quit smoking, under controversial plans drawn up in Hertfordshire.

www.independent.co.uk...

originally posted by: SilverOwls

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: Oldtimer2
Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

Socialists, Liberals and their ilk put £ or $ on a human being, NORMAL PEOPLE just want to give everyone a chance regardless of the cost, just like how the whole world wanted to save Charlie Gard

Socialists, liberals and their ilk gave you the NHS lol and lol. You should take your fat aunt to a private hospital instead of complaining.

Obesity and heart disease equals higher rates of death in serious operations. Yeah no let's blame the NHS and liberals because your aunt eats too much and doesn't exercise. Blame the surgeons because visceral fat and constricted arteries are impediments to surviving operations. Give her the surgical team when she's got a shorter life expectancy than a non smoking heart patient in good shape.

She has private insurance you div, did you not read what it says above. No operation if your bmi is above 35-40, so i will explain again NO DOCTOR WILL OPERATE. PRIVATE or NHS, BECAUSE ITS THE SAME DOCTORS and the same B.M.A. that governs them.

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: SilverOwls

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: Oldtimer2
Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

Socialists, Liberals and their ilk put £ or $ on a human being, NORMAL PEOPLE just want to give everyone a chance regardless of the cost, just like how the whole world wanted to save Charlie Gard

Socialists, liberals and their ilk gave you the NHS lol and lol. You should take your fat aunt to a private hospital instead of complaining.

Obesity and heart disease equals higher rates of death in serious operations. Yeah no let's blame the NHS and liberals because your aunt eats too much and doesn't exercise. Blame the surgeons because visceral fat and constricted arteries are impediments to surviving operations. Give her the surgical team when she's got a shorter life expectancy than a non smoking heart patient in good shape.

She has private insurance you div, did you not read what it says above. No operation if your bmi is above 35-40, so i will explain again NO DOCTOR WILL OPERATE. PRIVATE or NHS, BECAUSE ITS THE SAME DOCTORS and the same B.M.A. that governs them.

So she isn't responsible for anything? She's entitled to have doctors save the life she doesn't look after?

originally posted by: SilverOwls

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: SilverOwls

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: Oldtimer2
Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

Socialists, Liberals and their ilk put £ or $ on a human being, NORMAL PEOPLE just want to give everyone a chance regardless of the cost, just like how the whole world wanted to save Charlie Gard

Socialists, liberals and their ilk gave you the NHS lol and lol. You should take your fat aunt to a private hospital instead of complaining.

Obesity and heart disease equals higher rates of death in serious operations. Yeah no let's blame the NHS and liberals because your aunt eats too much and doesn't exercise. Blame the surgeons because visceral fat and constricted arteries are impediments to surviving operations. Give her the surgical team when she's got a shorter life expectancy than a non smoking heart patient in good shape.

She has private insurance you div, did you not read what it says above. No operation if your bmi is above 35-40, so i will explain again NO DOCTOR WILL OPERATE. PRIVATE or NHS, BECAUSE ITS THE SAME DOCTORS and the same B.M.A. that governs them.

So she isn't responsible for anything? She's entitled to have doctors save the life she doesn't look after?

How does a 70 year old lose weight.. Go jogging ?? Doctors save people, they don't judge. Unlike you !

What annoys me about the NHS is the amount of obese nurses and doctors who have the audacity to tell patients to stop smoking or lose weight. I was told by a fat nurse to stop smoking (which i did 1 year ago..I have never been overweight), so I did tell her to stop eating so many pies, as she was a candidate for Diabetes!! It didn't go down too well

There's two different things going on in the OPs post.

Firstly the restriction of non-routine and non life-threatening surgery for obese smokers in some parts of the NHS. Secondly the situation of the OPs Aunt who has presumably been effected by clinical decisions before this restriction.

For the former, the NHS has to direct its funding into the areas of most impact. The pot is not unlimited. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but funding has always been prioritised and if there are people in greater need that someone who has (perhaps) caused their own condition, then that's unfortunate.

As to your Aunt. I am sorry. However, as a generalisation, if her condition is caused by her being overweight and smoking the why treat it if the Aunt won't change. From a clinical perspective she'll get treatment based on need, but why treat her if the treatment won't have anything other than an temporary impact?

I really do think that people need to take "ownership" of their own lives and not expect that the State will fix them all the time because of self-inflicted illness. The NHS is an amazing organisation, but frankly we cannot expect it to just throw good money at people who are taking the piss.

Is this really true ?

Maybe they should ban operations for military personnel if they get injured ? After all - they should have known better than to trade in warfare !

You'd have to give up control of your mind and body - for the welfare of the state ?

The reverse then of ethos , these are fascistic leanings

a reply to: LondonMan

Eat less pies, it ain't rocket science, energy in, energy used.
I'm all for the move if it encourages people to eat healthily instead of being fat bastard drains on the NHS with their diabetes and other obesity related illnesses.

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: SilverOwls

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: SilverOwls

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: Oldtimer2
Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

Socialists, Liberals and their ilk put £ or $ on a human being, NORMAL PEOPLE just want to give everyone a chance regardless of the cost, just like how the whole world wanted to save Charlie Gard

Socialists, liberals and their ilk gave you the NHS lol and lol. You should take your fat aunt to a private hospital instead of complaining.

Obesity and heart disease equals higher rates of death in serious operations. Yeah no let's blame the NHS and liberals because your aunt eats too much and doesn't exercise. Blame the surgeons because visceral fat and constricted arteries are impediments to surviving operations. Give her the surgical team when she's got a shorter life expectancy than a non smoking heart patient in good shape.

She has private insurance you div, did you not read what it says above. No operation if your bmi is above 35-40, so i will explain again NO DOCTOR WILL OPERATE. PRIVATE or NHS, BECAUSE ITS THE SAME DOCTORS and the same B.M.A. that governs them.

So she isn't responsible for anything? She's entitled to have doctors save the life she doesn't look after?

How does a 70 year old lose weight.. Go jogging ?? Doctors save people, they don't judge. Unlike you !

Write your medical practitioner.

Dear Doctor, Please save my aunt from heart disease so she can add a further burden to the NHS when obesity and smoking take a toll. Yours respectfully, LondonMan.

originally posted by: Vertex
What annoys me about the NHS is the amount of obese nurses and doctors who have the audacity to tell patients to stop smoking or lose weight. I was told by a fat nurse to stop smoking (which i did 1 year ago..I have never been overweight), so I did tell her to stop eating so many pies, as she was a candidate for Diabetes!! It didn't go down too well

LMAO. Good for you.

originally posted by: Vertex
What annoys me about the NHS is the amount of obese nurses and doctors who have the audacity to tell patients to stop smoking or lose weight. I was told by a fat nurse to stop smoking (which i did 1 year ago..I have never been overweight), so I did tell her to stop eating so many pies, as she was a candidate for Diabetes!! It didn't go down too well

And politicians like Boris, Abbot, ERIC PICKLES FFS and they all pass these laws and regs

a reply to: LondonMan

So what?
If they are over the BMI limits themselves then they'll be denied treatment as well. And as you claim that private doctors won't do the operation either kinda blows a total hole in any elitist privilege argument as well lol

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: Vertex
What annoys me about the NHS is the amount of obese nurses and doctors who have the audacity to tell patients to stop smoking or lose weight. I was told by a fat nurse to stop smoking (which i did 1 year ago..I have never been overweight), so I did tell her to stop eating so many pies, as she was a candidate for Diabetes!! It didn't go down too well

And politicians like Boris, Abbot, ERIC PICKLES FFS and they all pass these laws and regs

Abbot isn't in government so she doesn't pass laws.

Also the politicians don't actually set the NHS guidelines, that's still done mostly by the NHS.


But yeah it's the hard reality of an under-funded NHS, they have to choose to give that heart operation to the fit and healthy non-smoking Aunt or the overweight smoker Aunt. So the priority goes to the fit and healthy Aunt because she'll get most benefit from it.


I have a very overweight brother, he's been told they might give him a surgery for a gastric band, but first he has to show he really means to make lifestyle changes by losing a bit of weight first. Plus, they want him to lose weight so the operation is less dangerous. This seems fair to me.

Smoking, being obese, all have various detrimental effects on the cardio-vascular system. Both nicotine and body fat cause blood vessels to narrow. That reduces the rate at which the body can fight infection and regenerate tissue. For joint replacements, the bones might not fuse or graft with the replacements due to the extra stress from that extra body weight. Fixing those problems with require additional surgeries.

Losing weight is easy once you know how. Avoid processed foods, drinks with phosphorus, anything with fructose corn syrup. Watch the fat, salt and sugar content on meals. A 30 minute walk each day is all you need.

originally posted by: LondonMan

originally posted by: Oldtimer2
Liberals wonder why they are looked on how they are,this is what happens when you let the government control you,we are trying to avoid being like UK,Germany etc,but we are getting close,and true fact what do we care about UK,we don't live there they have their own voice

Socialists, Liberals and their ilk put £ or $ on a human being, NORMAL PEOPLE just want to give everyone a chance regardless of the cost, just like how the whole world wanted to save Charlie Gard

Liberals created and implemented the NHS