Shaw Somers Timesonline article

[EmmaLouise81]

Britain’s busiest gastric-band surgeon - Times Online#

Thought I would share this...wanted to go to Shaw for a band but wish I had not read his name for us ladies!

 

[SOON SLIM SUE]

VERY IMFORMATIVE. THANK YOU.

 

[Roch]

Tbh i think he is just being blatantly honest and in the majority of us our obesity is all our faults, we cant control the food and quantities we eat and end up in vicious circle.
I think he is right that in the long run offering wls to people whose weight has stopped them working will save the government a whole lot of money in the long run, but the prob is these purse holding officials for some reason cant see this and are just thinking bout their budgets for the year and not the whole picture of what it will cost the government for benefits and medical issues if their obesity is not taken under control.
Not 2 sure bout the names he is calling people who are overweight but at the end of the day this man and many others in his field are operating on us and saving our lives and he has such a fab reputation there are not many people in his field in the uk who would do wls of any sort on a person weighing in the excess of 40 stone and still be successful.
If i had a choice where i had my nhs surgery i would def go to him and when i was looking to have surgery privately he was top of my list.

 

[CCPM]

I agree as well as being a very skilled bariatric surgeon Shaw Somers is a very kind and respectul man who always is courteous and has time for you.

Bariatric surgery is undoubtedly a route to save the NHS future monies for medical conditions. I don't usually join in debates about medical or PCT staff/decisions for the reason of my work, but feel this time I would just like to weigh in with my 2 pennorth.

The issues of PCT funding are a little more complex than just making sure they meet their budgets without realising the long term cost savings. If everyone who is obese was offered bariatric surgery despite cost implications of the surgery itself, the infrastructure just isn't there to deal with the increase in bariatric surgery this would bring. Training issues alone would take up to 2-3 years to address for a whole range of professionals who would need re-educating in bariatric work. Many posters have said how poor aftercare can be or how professionals lack bariatric speciifc knowledge. Shel for example needed help from a bariatric dietician in her pregnancy after wls as the usual one didn't have the knolegde required.

Mr Somers himself discussed with me at length his concern that some surgeons seem to be taking on this work without any specialist training in it. Hospitals would not have theatre or facility capacity to cope with extra demand which requires investment in buildings etc. What is required is a long term strategy to meet these needs as well as increased funding and that is a matter for government not individual PCTs. They just try to stretch their pre-determined budgets received from central government as far as they can around the health needs of their communities. Bariatric needs are growing but still represent a small proportion of overall health needs which must be addressed.

In addition GPs to date have had very little direct training in dealing with bariatric patients both pre and post op. They read the journal articles but few have the opportunity to see it first hand. As such trying to find out how to get the patient on the right track is often badly documented and furthermore is just 1 of about 250 sets of instructions they have to access re uncommon services so can't be easily remembered. PCTs often change their application process which filters down to practices but may not reach individual GPs. Sometimes changes occur without any communication from the hospital to the PCt to practices either.

Retreating back into my shell now

M

 

[Roch]

Good post and agree with ya xxx

 

[Barb]

I just worry that this kind of article lends weight (sorry!) to the 'fat bashing' that is getting more and more prevelant. Do thin people not get any illnesses then?

Ok, I accept being heavy has it's issues but I am getting sick to death of all this doom and gloom. My Dad is now 86, has been overweight since he was about 40; very active, non smoker/non drinker though. He would definately be labelled obese these days and be given all sorts of dire warnings about the effect his obesity would have on his longevity. Those warnings would be wrong. His cost to the NHS as a 'fat man' - one knee replacement op at age 83. Thats it.

I'm not saying that being overweight is a great idea - it's not, I'd love to be slimmer and am trying to be. But I hate all this scaremongering going on that is making people of 13/14/15 stone go under the knife to 'save their lives'- for some folk it's life changing and fantastic, for some, very few I know, it's a death sentance. For others, I seriously question the need.

That's my 10penneth!

 

[LizzieBee]

I enjoyed the article - thanks for the post. Can't say I mind being a big panty girl - it sounds harmless and it's much better than being called a fat b*tch or similar!

Lx

 

[Barb]

Why should you be called anything though? I mean, having to choose a lesser insult is not much of a choice is it?

 

[serenitylove]

he was my consultant and i chuckled at his names i thought they were quiet polite, and having met him im not surprised he is the most understanding dr iv ever encountered he did a great job with my band. im definatly a big panty girl lol

 

[candie]

I enjoyed the article - thanks for the post. Can't say I mind being a big panty girl - it sounds harmless and it's much better than being called a fat b*tch or similar!

Lx

Ok I have my new name for ya now
BTW is he American?

 

[archiesmum]

He was/is my surgeon. I've never met another health professional with the attitude that he has. He is kind but firm, honest but not brutal. The fact he calls us fluffies or big panty girls doesn't really bother me. The fact that he is a skillful surgeon was the most important thing when I was choosing a surgeon. He seemed to be quite excited when I saw him on Monday that he was in the Times. I did say to him that I hoped it was for something good and not as a wanted poster!!

 

[babyflower]

I thought the journalists descriptions were a little over the top. But I think Shaw Somer's descriptions were not meant as anything other than softening the blow from being called morbidly obese, super obese. I for one would prefer to be called a fluffy than fat. And having met Mr S a few times now, I would not see this as name calling, terms of endearment maybe - he is a lovely man.

 

[phatmomma]

Well this fluffy big panty girl enjoyed the article! Sounds like a lovely man....

 

[babyflower]

No he's not American.

But he is lovely!

Irony with being a big panty girl is that for a bypass no pants are worn! So I guess for the duration of the op it should be a big no-panty girl! The mind boggles....

 

[LizzieBee]

Why should you be called anything though? I mean, having to choose a lesser insult is not much of a choice is it?

Just wanted to say that 'Big Panty Girl' is not what I consider to be an insult - it sounds like a term of endearment and I have to say that I like it! Shame the little Smiley men don't have their big pants on!
:massmoon:

Lx

 

[thinkbethin]

Why should you be called anything though? I mean, having to choose a lesser insult is not much of a choice is it?

I totally agree. We have names and don't need to be called anything else.

 

[EmmaLouise81]

Do you wear those paper pants for the Gastric band surgery?

I did contact Mr Somers on his email and he said he would forward my details to his co-ordinators...so far nothing so thinking of ringing the streamline number to see if I can get consultaion.

With me being in Ireland I will have to sort out flights etc so want to get the ball rolling.

Strange not scared of surgery but hate the fact he or any Dr would think of me as a big panty girl, hate the thought of having to walk to theatre but not scared of being cut open!

I think I just hate the word 'panty', such an American thing.

Having only caught a couple FAT DOCTOR shows of old recently he does come across very personable and 'human'. Seems strange to say that but so many people in the medical field can be cold.

Mind you I have showed a few people links to his articles just so they can see who I would like to do my surgery and all they ask me is if he is married?! How would I know? I even caught myself looking for a ring on his hand last night!

Or they are telling me how hot he is....I don't want that in my head if I ever get to meet him!

 

[32bme]

A really good article,liked the part about the forgootten generation,and telling very overweight people to eat less and move more does'nt work. Its great that it cures diabetisis(in many cases) look how much health,resources, finances, and mental health that will save the costs is phenominal in that area alone.
Mia

 

[babyflower]

I wore my own pants when I had my band removed with him. Unless you cannot walk, walking to theatre at Chichester is standard for bariatrics as it gets the blood pumping a little to help with the general.

Don't worry about the names - when you meet Mr Somers you will see that he is a big softie and very compassionate. Nothing malicious or judgemental about him at all. I don't think any of his patients would not see this as fat-bashing or insulting, but just his way.

Someone somewhere told me that yes he is married with children - and his children have been educated to be nice to bigger people - he won't tolerate mickey taking of any kind. But maybe this is hearsay? Who knows - maybe someone should start a Shaw fan club and get all his personal info?!!!!

He is lovely, but he is also a total professional and an excellent surgeon. He doesn't stand for nonsense and doesn't judge.