OPS BAN ON THE FAT AND SMOKERS
SMOKERS and obese patients will be denied life-changing operations unless they adopt healthier lifestyles, as the county's health chiefs introduce radical steps to save money.
And in another cost-cutting measure, around 1,800 West Norfolk patients needing operations, such as hip and knee replacements, will have to wait as Norfolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) has banned all non-urgent procedures during two months next year.
The news comes just days after the PCT warned that community beds and hospitals, including Swaffham, could also be axed as it battles with a 50 million debt.
The PCT has told Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital that smokers and obese patients will not be referred for elective surgery unless they kick the habit or lose weight – because they cost more money to look after.
Managers say such patients are at greater risk of complications and take more time to recover from surgery meaning longer – and more expensive – stays in hospital.
While emergency operations for smokers and the obese will still be carried out, the new policy means they could miss out on treatments such as hernia operations and varicose vein removal.
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham blasted the move, and blamed the Government's "gross incompetence" for allowing the PCT to form with such huge debts.
And while he agreed that some smokers and obese people are a drain on the health service, he said a blanket policy would be totally unfair.
"There are some people who are obese through no fault of their own and some smokers who, if they gave up smoking, could become depressed and develop other costly problems.
"One rule cannot fit all, and every patient needs to be assessed on their merit."
'devastating effect'
He also criticised separate proposals to ban all non-urgent routine operations during February and March next year, fearing it would have a "devastating effect" on waiting lists.
The PCT says the operations should be deferred until the new financial year in April, and warned the QEH that any procedures carried out during the restriction will not be paid for.
"Although they are not urgent operations, patients waiting for things like hip replacements will be in a great deal of pain and their quality of life will suffer," said Mr Bellingham.
A hospital spokesman said: "We are studying these proposals in detail but it's too early to say what impact they will have on our day-to-day operations or on our finances."
The PCT says if smokers and the obese have tried hard to improve their health and need the surgery, they may get it.
But if it is felt they have not made a strong effort to stop and are at high risk from the proposed surgery, they may not be referred to the operation at that stage.
Dr Rob Colebrook, the PCT's director of clinical services, said: "By referring patients to lifestyle advice before routine surgery, we can help people to have a healthier outcome and reduce the cost of their care.
"Over the next few months, we will be looking in detail at what support patients will need to lose weight before they are referred by their GP for an operation. As far as smoking is concerned, there are well-established Stop Smoking clinics where patients can get support and advice."
amy.collett@lynnnews.co.uk
Would YOU be denied treatment?
Just how many of us could be denied treatment? According to statistics, around a quarter of Norfolk's population smoke, and two-thirds of UK adults are overweight.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to measure obesity. It takes your weight in kilograms, and divides it by the square of your height in metres, to calculate an approximate body fat percentage.
But it doesn't seem to differentiate between fat and muscle – with many of us, and even film stars such as George Clooney and Brad Pitt, being classed as obese.
The BMI is not a simple calculation, but there are a number of websites to help you calculate your own BMI quickly and easily. One is at: www2.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/ bodymassindex/htm#bmi
l A BMI of less than 18.4 is underweight, between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal, between 25 and 29.9 is overweight, between 30 and 39.9 is obese and over 40 is morbidly obese.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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