unimpressed :(

[Sharonimo]

Really strange - My BMI wasn't 50 and I got a referral. :wave_cry: Sorry to hear this, it is really silly.

I can only presume that you had some other reasons, 2 or more co-morbidities (Diabetes, osteo-arthritis) etc that prompted your GP to make the referral?

All the NHS guidelines I have read have been:

BMI > 50 .... surgery funded

BMI: 45 -- 49 plus 1 co-morbidity .... surgery funded
BMI: 40 -- 45 plus 2 co-morbidities .... surgery funded

(BMI under 40 very very *rarely* funded on the NHS unless lots of complicating factors, and NHS weight management programme has been undertaken).

Like Pandora I did not get a GP to open his eyes and make the referral until my BMI was above 50 (and by that time guess what I had 3 co-morbidities already -- Type 2 Diabetes, plus osteo-arthritis, plus sky high BP (205 over 108 without meds)).

For me, like Pandora, I have felt like "Oh I had to be THIS ill and THIS big before any GP would get off his arse and take my problem seriously!"

 

[snooky]

Not here in Coventry Sharonimo.
BMI 65+ no co-morbidities > Surgery funded

BMI 50+ with 2 or more co-morbidities > surgery funded

BMI 45+ and diabetes > Surgery funded

Below 45 and no diabetes you are just under the morbid obesity team at the hospital. it is very different all over the country.

 

[pandora]

To be fair sharonimo this is the first GP I have asked for help & don't feel let down , each GP has to do something first time .
If this doesn't work & I know I fit criteria I will spk to my occupational health or the consultants secretary as I work in the hospital

 

[Tatiana]

Sharonimo,

If you look on the BOSPA website a lot of PCTs use the NICE guidelines which is less restrictive than some trusts as mentioned above.

Doesn't help much if you live in an area with restrictive referral criteria though!

Tatiana

 

[Sharonimo]

Sharonimo,

If you look on the BOSPA website a lot of PCTs use the NICE guidelines which is less restrictive than some trusts as mentioned above.

Well my only small piece of luck in this 8 year nightmare battle to get a GP to refer me is that I live in a PCT are athat does go exactly by the NICE guidelines.

But my post above was replying to Neeta who appears (according to her profile on) to have been referred with a BMI of just 37.2

How the heck does anyone get referred with a BMI below 40 ....?


Sorry if this appears I am attacking another poster but i have had an 8 year battle to get referred and only finally got referred this year at a BMI of 51.7, plus diabetes, sleep apnoea, plus osteo-arthritis plus BP of 205 over 108 .... and feel that I have reached the stage I am nearly on my deathbed (i am currently walking with crutches as slow as a 90 year old invalid walks) and that I would most likely not reach 50 years old if this decision had not been taken this year.

 

[lamornamiss]

NICE guidelines used to be
BMI of 35 with comorbidities
or over 40 without comorbidities.
They have changed a lot in the last couple of years as more and more people asked to be referred.