civvygit

Hello, I'm a mother of 3 living in Central London with my lovely other half and our little dog.

Been going through this since goodness knows when, I'd have to look in the family file for all the letters, recently found out the PCT need a letter from my GP, a referral no less, that should have been with them right at the start!

If anyone has any info on Islington PCT, the Whittington coordinator and how to kick start them into action please help!

Happily attending OA each week, looking at the reasons behind my addiction and weight gain to get me emotionally and mentally ready for my operation.

That's about it really...... Oh yeah, and how did you get your BMI into your side bar?

Best wishes

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Mrs Quiggle

Hi and welcome to the forum. Can't answer any of your questions as I was under St. Georges Tooting but want to wish you loads of luck on your journey.

Think you need a certain number of posts before you can post info. But have a look under the User CP tab at the top as you might find it there.

Kate x

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safc_chick

Hiya and welcome, if u go to USER CP near top left and go to edit details xx

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10 day Pre-op diet = -14lb (1 stone loss)
wk 1 = -8lb
wk 2 = -7lb (2 stone loss)
wk 3 = -2lb
wk 4 = -2lb
wk 5 = -5lb
wk 6 = -2lb
wk 7 = -2lb (3 stone loss)
wk 8 = -3lb
wk 9 = -3lb
wk 10 = -4lb
wk 11 = -5lb (4 stone loss)
wk 12 = -3lb
wk 13 = -2lb
wk 14 = -3lb
wk 15 = -2lb
wk 16 = -4lb (5 stone loss)
wk 17 = -4lb
wk 18 = -2lb
wk 19 = -3lb
wk 20 = -4lb (6 stone loss)
wk 21 = -2lb
wk 22 = -4lb
wk 23 = -3lb
wk 24 = -4lb
wk 25 = -3lb (7 stone loss)
wk 26 = -3lb
wk 27 = -2lb

Sharonimo

Go to the "User CP" area (top left of the menu bar). Add as many details as you can inc. height and weight -- then it will calculate your BMI for you.


The co-ordinator's name is Lorna Antoine and all of the Bariatric Team's info at the Whittington is available online:

Whittington NHS Trust Website: Contact details

Please do also come to the Whittington patient support meetings:
Whittington NHS Trust Website: Patient support group
(third Thursday of every month -- next one 16 Feb)

TO KICK START YOUR GP:

1. Get an appointment with your GP and ask him to write official referral letter to either Mr Heath or Mr Sufi for bariatric surgery (including that you are already attending weight management).

2. Get your GP to fill in the forms for funding for "exceptional circumstances" (bariatric surgery is treated as "exceptional" because it is not routine -- it has to be approved in advance unlike emergency treatment / cancer treatment etc) and send them off to your PCT.

After the initial referral (which my GP was very good and quick about) I had to "chase" him and his admin team for everything else -- principally the funding forms and making sure his secretary got them sent off.

Since all the North London PCT's joined together I *believe* that funding may be a little easier and smoother -- it is just your GP you need to kick start into action, no one else! (in my experience!)

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My condition at referral: Type 2 Diabetes, osteo-arthritis (knees and hips), High BP, asthma, chronic rhinitis, mild sleep apnoea, para-umbilical hernia .................................................. .................... [referred by GP: January 2011]

Pre-op weight loss: 43 lbs (330 lbs --> 287 lbs)

Weight from op date onwards:
Op day ....... 17 Apr ....... 20 st 7 lbs ....... (287 lbs) ....... 130 Kgs
Week 1 ....... 24 Apr ....... 20 st 0 lbs ....... -7
Week 2 ....... 1 May ....... 19 st 10 lbs....... -4
Week 3 ....... 8 May ....... 19 st 7 lbs ......... -3
Week 4 ....... 15 May ..... 19 st 4 lbs ......... -3

BECKYBROWN80

just wanted to say hi and welcome. have just been bypassed by dr heath nearly 3 weeks ago. i had alot pf probs with funding but just keep on. lorna will chase things up for you but keep on at the pct! my letters were lost so many times! so keep on and keep yourself at the top of the list. i first asked my doc for refereral in dec 2009 and had surgery jan 13th 2012!!
good luck with your journey xxx

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[SIZE="1"]at the start of a long journey....bring it on!

Weight Loss Diary
Start - 23st 2lbs
Pre-op Diet - 16lb loss 22st
Leaving hospital weight +3lbs 22st 3lbs

Week 1 -12lbs loss 21st 5lbs.
Week 2 -5lbs 21st
Week 3 -4lbs 20st 11lbs
Week 4 -3lbs 20st 8lbs
Week 5 -6lbs 20st 2lb
Week 6 -4lbs 19st 12lbs
Week 7 -4lbs 19st 8lbs
Week 8 -3lbs 19st 5lbs
Week 9 -3lbs 19st 2lbs
Week 10 -4lbs 18st 12lbs
Week 11 -4lbs 18st 8lbs
Week 12 -1lbs 18st 7lbs
Week 13 -2lbs 18st 5lbs
Week 14 -5lbs 18st
Week 15 -2lbs 17st 12lbs
Week 16 -5lbs 17st 7lbs
Week 17 -1lb 17st 6lbs
Week 18 -5lbs 17st 1lbs

civvygit

Hello, Thanks for the heads up, well I called Lorna who told me the PCT had the papers, so I called them and they told me the initial referral papers hadn't included a piece they needed, (Why they didn't just send the papers back to the GP is beyond me!?) anyway, they have now sent that to my GP and she has filled it in, as of Monday the 6th, called the PCT this morning and they still haven't received it......

It's like swimming with your feet tied to the pier, you get no-where fast!

Am going to call both the GP and the PCT on Monday morning and see where we're at then.

On a brighter note I'm off for my appointment at the Apnea Clinic tomorrow.

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angiemason

good luck and keep nagging

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angie

civvygit

Thanks Angie, to be honest I just keep looking at the side bars on all the members here and that gives me hope!

We have a few things we say to stop me binge eating, one of the them is 3W-L-2S which is code for What Would Weight Loss Surgery Say!

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civvygit

Just for my future records, my Bariatric Group session was in December 2010

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judybrowneyes

Hi it might be worth getting a copy of the referal from GP and then fax it across to PCT,or drop it in to them as you are local to pct. once you got the funding back on the Lorna to arrange date , The whit team are really good, you will be in great hands...it is the best thing I ever did regarding loosing weight you have to work with it ad when you do the results are fabulous!! best of luck

civvygit

Thanks Judy, what surgery did you have?

I'm calling my GP now.

Thanks!

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civvygit

Quick up-date.....

The GP have sent the letter to the PCT, last Tuesday, can't understand why it's not been received, have left a copy at the reception desk in the Surgery for collection today.

I'll be faxing it to the PCT, calling them tomorrow to find out if it's been received and when it'll be action-ed, then I'll call Lorna and give her a quick up-date.

Many thanks!

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judybrowneyes

I had a gastric bypass as i waned something permanent!! nver want to go back to being so overweight!! best thing i ever did, worth the initial discomfort , I am now awaiting a date for my plastics (yes you do get left with some hanging skin which causes some problems but being younger your skin might bounce back better, and even if it doesnt there is help out there one way or the other...good luck and be nice but firm with the doc and pct, if you have co morbidities should not be an issue....good luck x

angiemason

faxes hardly ever get lost they usually get there straight away so i would phone 15 mins after sending and then again if they say they haven't got it at least with faxing you have the copy and send as often as necessary nag nag nag

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angie

civvygit

In my sticky wee hand I now have the one piece of paper they need..... For now, I think they're stalling. (am a former nurse and know how the system works at this time of the financial year.)

Will fax it tomorrow then follow up.

Today I was fitted for my rather attractive nose hose...... I can see a whole round of group captain and bomber command comments heading my way, at least I have a week to get used to it while hubby is skiing!

:-)

Judy I get you, feel the same way, can't trust me not to mess up if the option is there!

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