referral for weightloss surgery on the nhs

[charlie26]

Hiya

ok i thought id post as i have a few questions and im hoping you may be able to help me lol
I have been overweight for years ,i was always the 'big' kid' at school and still am 'big'!
I have had 4 kids pretty close together.I manage to lose weight but can never keep it off which as lots will know is highly frustrating!
I went to my doctors a few weeks ago and asked about weightloss surgery(i have tried all the slimming pills/diets etc through my gp).He done my BMI and its 42..shocking!!!! so he said he would put me forward for 'consideration'.He said i need to have an assessment to make sure there are no underlying issues that could be causing my weight etc..ie comfort eating!.My appointment is tomorrow for the assessment.I have also got to see a dietician on the 10th september.Basically to cut a long story short i was wondering how likely it it that i will be able to have the band..if its possible to answer that question??!!!My GP's words were '' i will refer you for the assessment when you have the all clear from that i will put you on the shortest waiting list out of the 2 hospitals that we use''..now im not sure how to take that in the sense that does it mean i have to wait 6 months to 1yr to be turned down for the op or what?he mentioned that they use a hospital in north london and one in chichester which is well over a hundred miles away and he asked if that was ok for me...obviously thats fine with me!
Can anyone maybe shed some light for me ..please??!
I am aware that this is not an easy way out; but i am at the stage where my weight is so out of control i need help so i can ''start from scratch'!
My mum had the surgery done 23 yrs ago and has recently had corrective surgery because of the severe complications and suffering that she has had all of these years(she went private but the nhs has done the corrective.)
i really look forward to hearing from you ,and thank you in advance

charlie
xxx

 

[Mixman]

Hi Charlie and welcome to minimins

Different areas have different criteria and different opinions by dieticians, so I think the best way would be to wait rather than somebody not in the decision 'loop' to give you false hope!

There are lots of banders on here who have fantastic results and lives as a result!

Chin up and fingers crossed

 

[SOON SLIM SUE]

hi charlie,
mixman is right. at least your going fowards, we all have to start somwhere.

 

[dreamofbeingslim]

Hi and good luck with getting your funding. I am still waiting to hear if I can have a bypass, hopefully a decision will be made for me on Wednesday.

 

[Snowcrystal]

Yep...same as above!

But you are on the way at least.

With regards to your preference to the 'band'...I would wait until you speak with your bariatric team to discuss your eating habits.

All the best of luck

(((hugs)))

ps: Welcome to mini's

 

[Bonita]

The decision is not your doctors. The funding decison is down to your local PCT and the decision about the surgery is down to the Bariatric team. In some area's you can have the choose and book system which may be what your doctor is refering too.

Good luck on your first step and hope it works out for you.

 

[Roch]

Hi and welcome to MM, like wat Bonita said its not his decision but ur pct`s so he is not chatting much sense unfortunately.
If u r referred to a hospital in north london it will most prob be the Whittington as i think its the only one in North london doing bariatric surgery.
I am at the Whit and there are quite a few MM crew who are having surgery there or who have had surgery.
If u r referred to the Whit then u will first have a wls info group meeting , then 8 weeks later see a consultant and he will then decide if wls is right for you then he will apply for funding for you.
If you look on the Bospa site you can see what your pct criteria is for wls, also you could call ur pct and ask them what their procedure is for wls its best to hear it from them i believe as its them who hold the purse strings.
What pct are you under there very well could be others here who are under the same pct and can offer you some advice.
Take care and hope all goes well with your appointments x

BOSPA - The British Obesity Surgery Patient Association

 

[charlie26]

hiya

Thanks for all your answers and warm welcomes!!
Can i ask ..what is the ''choose and book scheme''?
x

 

[charlie26]

hi

i looked on that site but couldnt see the area..im in gravesend in kent/southeast.I know its the west kent pct but on their site i couldnt see anything about th wls criterea ...

 

[Roch]

hiya

Thanks for all your answers and warm welcomes!!
Can i ask ..what is the ''choose and book scheme''?
x

Choose and book is the new system the nhs have for booking appointments, u r sent a letter with a ref number and password and u can choose the hospital( u r given a list) and dates providing they are available and that your pct uses those hospitals.

I am sorry i dont know anything bout your pct but def give them a ring in the morning and ask their procedure, u dont have to give them any info bout urself just a general question.
Some pct`s have not sent in any ifno to the Bospa site, i know my pct says "awaiting info " x

 

[swizzlestick]

Hi Charlie. I think you need to look for the NICE criteria online. I just checked the BOSPA website and West Kent has not submitted any info regarding their guidelines.

The choose and book is a system that gp's use when they need to refer you to a consultant or specialist service, for example if you needed to see someone to have a procedure. Your gp goes online to find where there is a specialist and you chose where you want to go, the doctor prints you off a form with the specialists details and a special password, you have to ring them and book an appointment.

I think this is what your GP plans to do, use the choose and book system for the the hospitals they use.

When your GP say 'underlying issues', I don't think he is referring to your eating habits, I think he wants to make sure it isnt a medical reason ie thyroid. It sounds like he wants to check out if its medical first, then apply for funding, get the funding in place and then choose and book you an appointment with the shortest waiting list.

Often some medical issues strengthen your case for surgery. Also, at some stage you will have to see a dietician, be honest about your eating habits, if your a chocoholic or junk food addict tell them this, they arent there to judge you, they are there to help the team and you decide whether banding or bypass is best.

You will also probably have to lose some weight to show them you are commited to the new lifestyle as they put it.

Good luck with your journey

 

[thinkbethin]

Hi Charlie and:welcome2: to minis.Have you checked the bospa website to find out the criteria for your area? Good luck with getting the funding for your band. I had a band in may and have lost 3 stone 9lbs. I'm happy with the results and happy to know its not going to come back again with the extra pounds in tow.xx

 

[Big an Bouncy]

Hi Charlie and welcome.What did your mum have done 23 years ago and what was the corrective treatment for?We dont have many wls peeps that have been done that long ago.Hope you dont mind the questions,will understand if you dont want to discuss it.x