Wohooo!! doc reffering me.... what next?

nataflee · July 11, 2008

Hi all

i am so pleased the doctor has finally agreed to reffer me for a gastric band, :lol: she is going to be reffering me to either Sollihull or Derby has anyone been to either of these?

She said i will have to go for an assesment at thier clinic and that i should'nt get my hopes up as they could still refuse me at that stage if i dont meet thier criteria.:sleep:

so i am just looking for some advice really from people that have been through the assement stage so i know what to expect and can get myself prepared.

Any advice really appreiciated

Thanks

Natalie :confused:

blondekerri79 · July 11, 2008

Hi,

I hope you have better luck then me with the NHS, initially when I was under the weight management clinic I didn't want to consider surgery, since then I have had all the tablet, numerous dietitian appointment and nothing, so I changed my mind, I spoke to the consultant who then decided that my BMI was too low, but it was high enough if I had problems with my blood pressure and colesterol, which he has tested and in his words are "suprisingly perfect!!", I also have a prolapsed disc in my spine which doesnt help with my weight and I can't have any further treatment because of it, but still he said "No", so after the rollercoaster of the NHS i'm now booked in private!!

Good Luck with your consultation x

Vixon · July 11, 2008

If you have the option take Derby, it is one of the leading bariatric centres in the UK and Dr Leeder an experienced and excellent surgeon.

nataflee · July 11, 2008

Hi, oh right that's good to know, well the doctor just said Solihull straight away but i said i'd heard derby do loads, so she said she would look into it but she hasnt had any experience with Derby, so still dont know where she will send me

Thanx

Natalie

Maincat · July 12, 2008

Hi,
I hope you have better luck then me with the NHS, initially when I was under the weight management clinic I didn't want to consider surgery, since then I have had all the tablet, numerous dietitian appointment and nothing, so I changed my mind, I spoke to the consultant who then decided that my BMI was too low, but it was high enough if I had problems with my blood pressure and colesterol, which he has tested and in his words are "suprisingly perfect!!", I also have a prolapsed disc in my spine which doesnt help with my weight and I can't have any further treatment because of it, but still he said "No", so after the rollercoaster of the NHS i'm now booked in private!!

Good Luck with your consultation x

I'm sorry to hear of your experiences. You don't say what your BMI is, but if it is low(ish) then they will look for 'co-mobidities'. If you didn't have any (that counted, eg blood pressure issues), then they would not authorise the surgery.

Are you clear what aftercare your private operation contains..fills, contact etc?

I hope all goes well for you.

blondekerri79 · July 12, 2008

My bmi is 43, and currently have no medical problems, but I lost my dad at 51 to un-diagnosed Heart Disease 3 yrs ago and it is something that seems to run in his side of the family, so my weight won't help me in the future, and also is affects my prolapsed disc.

I don't have any aftercare package with my surgery, I couldn't afford the extra £3000, I will pay for fills every other month, thats affordable to me.

Maincat · July 13, 2008

My bmi is 43, and currently have no medical problems

I thought that the NHS would offer an operation with a BMI over 40 (morbidly obese) and over 35 with co-morbidities. I had my operation with a BMI of 41.

I would go to a different GP/Hospital to see what they said. Sounds to me like you are a victim of the Post Code Lottery.

Vixon · July 13, 2008

Grrrrr don't get me started on postcode lottery.

I live in Scotland in general it's not something we have a problem with....

But for bariatrics there are only a few trusts that have the service, and across area referals are not permitted :s

I can't actually fault my trust (I can fault my gp and practice nurse but that is a different story) as my diabetic nurse at the local hospital looked into it for me as she knows a surgeon very interested in getting it up and running in our area but as it is such a new service they are expecting it to be around 3 years before they are ready to have it operational (pardon the pun). From what I can gather it's something all trusts are looking into but really needs an interested surgeon in the area to champion it to get it moving faster.

I can't/won't wait 3 years as I hope to have my band and a degree of success then hopefully have a second baby. So maybe in 3 years time I will br looking to start having my band refilled - and I've been told they see no reason why even going private why my after care cannot be transfered to the NHS once their service is up and running.

But for me this is all sometime maybe.

At the moment my main aim is to be able to save every spare penny from now until november and have my op done by Dr Chris De Bruyne late November so I might just manage 2 sprouts and half a spud for christmas dinner.< /p>

Maincat · July 13, 2008

Vixen,

I've just got this from a website Obesity Surgery in Scotland

'Patients from within the Glasgow area must be referred by their GP to the Glasgow Weight Management Service and from this programme a limited number of patients (currently 30 / year) will be referred to NHS surgeons for consideration for surgery. If you are from outside Glasgow then weight loss surgery on the NHS is not available to you in Glasgow at the moment. Please consult your GP for advice about access to NHS services in your area.'

What are the chances of having NHS surgery in England?

Vixon · July 13, 2008

It all comes down to funding doesnt it :s

My trust doesn't have the service and wont pay for it out of area by another trust. Quite rightly other areas don't pay for out of area patients, I'm sure they have enough of their own to concentrate on.

The ironic thing is the houses I lived in from 2001-2005 were in lanarkshire trust area and they have a single surgeon performing banding ops. He theoretically would take an out of area patient (if they came with their own trusts funding) but at the moment is so busy he isn't taking anymore referals until nearer the end of the year even in his own area.

I live half an hour from Glasgow but from what I've heard they make u jump through hoops at the weight management service. I have already had a very negative response from my gp, ph surgery that's drastic surely talk to practice nurse about pills and I'll leave you a script from them. Talk to practice nurse and she says I can't have the pills. Say's I'm not trying hard enough - I lost 2 and a half stone last year, call that not trying? Unfortunately it's gone back on, that's the whole point of a band isnt it to help u get it off and keep it off.

At one point I did consider trying to get the op done in England - a friend is currently under referal to Derby and we thought about trying it via her address but my husband was against the idea of messing around trying to "cheat" the system and having my medical records where they wouldnt be useful in an emergency.

So at the moment my only choice is private and my budget can only wiggle it's way to Belgium and while I realise I wont get the after care I could here with a package I'm reasonably satisfied that the aftercare service Dr Chris has on a pay as u need basis will be more than enough for me. If it turns out getting to Edinburgh from Ayrshire is a bigger pain than I expect I may find someone in Glasgow for fills, but as far as I can tell Dr Chris has a good rep and I'd prefer to travel and stay with him if I can for continuity of care at least in the first year or so.

Maincat · July 14, 2008

The postcode lottery is a disgrace, and I speak as one who has benefitted from it.

2 1/2 stones weightloss in a year really is trying! I don't live in Derby, but they banded me, as my Trust was willing to pay for the surgery. This isn't a NATIONAL Health Service, it's a regional one.

I'm really sorry that you have had to go private, with the costs that involves. Are the government really serious about an obesity strategy or not?

I really hope that all turns out well for you with your operation. You will have the last laugh.