GP visit

[shazbrad]

Well peeps i went to see my GP on Friday mainly to get antibiotics for throat infection, but while i was there i asked about referral for tummy tuck, the GP i saw also had a gastric bypass around the same time as me, so i thought maybe i would stand a better chance if i went through him, how wrong could i be it wasn't that he didn't want to refer me because he too would like one, but it is our PCT who are to blame, apparently they have sent letters to GP's to say they will not be giving permission for these types of ops :cry:apparently they won't even allow hernia ops or varicose veins so basically unless they change their rules i stand no chance of having tummy tuck.
My GP was however very nice and said that if he hears of any change then he will let me and the other people in my area what there are people around here that have had the op too???? oh yes he says well you could've knocked me down with a feather when he said that maybe if there was a support group then i might have met some of them sooner as it is maybe there will be some at the first meeting at St Georges in April.
Anyway there's no chance of me having my tummy tuck for the forseeable future :cry: unless of course i move to an area where they do allow them, which isn't on the cards unfortunately
Sorry if i rambled on a bit

 

[jaxx]

OMG that's so horrible to be told that your PCT has changed it's mind about these operations! I'm sorry you've been turned down. xx

 

[hopelesscase]

im just in the process of appeal to my pct shaz but i need more than a tummy tuck.

i have been talking to a surgeon who was recommended to me he does a lot of work at christie hospital and this is what hes said

Gary’

Before I go ahead and book can I just check a few things out with you. I know you specialise in neck, throat and breast reconstruction but how many body lifts have you done. Also I am currently appealing against my PCT’s decision not to fund any reconstructive surgery following my NHS gastric bypass.
Have you had any patients who have had a body lift via the NHS.
I would value your professional opinion as to what is the most appropriate treatment for me and also if I am unsuccessful in my appeal the cost involved.

Kind regards

carole



carole
I have never had a total body lift funded on the NHS. At best an abdominoplasty.
In terms of my expertise I regularly perform abdominoplasty and apronectomy as part of my NHS practice and have an extensive body contouring private practice. In terms of body lifts I only do 2-3 per year as this is a very specialised field - however I have the team and facility to perform it (ITU onsite - only available in 2 places in the UK). There is no other setup similar in the greater manchester area and I do not believe there are any other private hospitals in the greater manchester region performing total body lifts.
In terms of cost - it is expensive as we are a team and there are 4 surgeons (although I do the majority of the planning and excisions and my team perform the closure and assistance) keeping your surgery to 4 hours and minimising complications. Arms and total body lift is around 12k and usually I do breasts and legs as the second op at around 10k. It may be possible to do arms/total body lift and breasts together as a one op and the price would be less but I would need to see you to determine if this was possible.

Regards

Gary

 

[galm37]

That's really interesting Carole. I didn't think it would be that expensive though!

Good luck with your appeal

 

[rosejohnson]

Seems it's even harder to get tummy tuck on the nhs than it is a bypass!

I am waiting for an appointment with a surgeon but I am not hopeful.

Good luck everybody, and we should definitely all share when things have gone well (or not) to help others out. There isn't as much support around this type of surgery in my opinion.

Rx

 

[CCPM]

I agree wholeheartedly that this is reconstructive surgery and should be funded but I can shed some light on why the NHS are refusing this type of op. The Dept of Health have dteremined that over the course of their next year they must cut the costs of the services they offer by a net 1%. In addition they must reduce overall numbers of admissions and hospitals will be surcharged if they exceed last years figures. Further cost savings have also to be made across the board. PCTs have already started meeting with us as GPs to tell us that we also must stop referring in to the hospitals as we also will have a reduced budget and will be penalised via our contract funding if we do. The list of low priority or non-essential treatments grows larger every year and of course differs between PCTs as they make individual choices. As you can see from the figures Carole was given they are going to be hitting the big cost items and volume referrals first such as varicose veins etc.

M

 

[miss jelly tot]

Im really sorry to hear this. Just shows it is a post code lottery as I had abdominalplasty funding agreed last week. My PCT decide on funding first before referral to a PS.
I thought the NHS was trying to come away from the so called 'post code lottery' but this proves unfortunately isnt. I hope you appeal goes well, keep us updated

 

[archiesmum]

Afraid postcode lottery still exists. I was unable to get even a band on the NHS despite meeting NICE criteria and having co-morbidities!! Waited 2 years before going private so no chance of any plastics on NHS here.

 

[eggbat]

tummy tuck

hi i live in the south west and had my bypass over a year ago when i first met my surgeon i had to sign a disclaimer to state that as a result of my bypass surgury i could neither expect nor assume any sort of plastic surgury on the nhs only to be considered by the nhs if in dire medical need no cosmetic proceedures at all

 

[candie]

My pct wont fund tummy tucks for cosmetic reasons, so i'm stumped really, unless I appealHowever the doc has said I will get my veins done

 

[jem06]

thats really disapointing - whats the next step then?

 

[shazbrad]

hi i live in the south west and had my bypass over a year ago when i first met my surgeon i had to sign a disclaimer to state that as a result of my bypass surgury i could neither expect nor assume any sort of plastic surgury on the nhs only to be considered by the nhs if in dire medical need no cosmetic proceedures at all

hi when i saw my surgeon pre-op he said i would be able to have a tummy tuck, and anything else that would be needed as long as PCT agreed,

 

[shazbrad]

Thankyou ladies for your comments, the next stage for me is to talk to my surgeon or his team at my next check up in September and see what they have to say/recommend

 

[12dobidog]

If you have any agreement in writing then you could always send a copy to the Minister of health and ask them to justify the change.
Or write to the PCT direct and ask them to justify themselves