Gastric band patients: We've been abandoned by NHS health trust

“@ Totalsense1

'How about some self discipline and knock the greed on the head instead of draining the NHS.if you eat more calories than you burn you get fat, simple! I may write a book with the 'Total Sense Diet'. Eat healthy fresh food in moderation, don't eat processed rubbish and exercise, hey presto the miracle diet! Hhm one line, simple!'

If only it were that easy.

I have lived with a partner for over thirty years who has been gaining in weight until she is now diabetic, has had at least two heart attacks and is on a cocktail of medication and injections twice daily. We do not eat junk food and exercise restraint on the quantities we eat.

She has tried numerous diets which, although showing short term weight loss have had no appreciable affect on the long term weight. Medical experts will tell you that dieting is not the answer for continued weight loss and are only short term solutions.

After many years of seeing a consultant she is now due to have stomach banding but has been advised that it may not help her in the long run to reduce and maintain weight loss as it has been medically proven that people who have had stomach banding have actually increased their weight despite the banding.

The cost to the NHS through the continued use of medication will be infinitely greater than the cost and continued monitoring of the operation although this seemed, in my partners' case, to be a lesser concern to the consultant.

In order that my partner was put on the list for the operation she had to jump through ever more hoops, try ever more options and medication and, eventually, cajole the consultant into agreeing. Had we opted for having the operation done privately it would have been carried out by the same consultant, using the same hospital and equipment but funded by us. We could have gone abroad to have the operation had we chose but .......

So you see, your 'quick and easy' fix is not necessarily the answer.”

“We all have to tighten our belts.”

“They should walk past Greggs and go to the greengrocers instead.”

“How about some self discipline and knock the greed on the head instead of draining the NHS.if you eat more calories than you burn you get fat, simple! I may write a book with the 'Total Sense Diet'. Eat healthy fresh food in moderation, don't eat processed rubbish and exercise, hey presto the miracle diet! Hhm one line, simple!”

“So the NHS have stated they will continue to receive aftercare.


Someone remind me why is this in the paper?”

“Gastric band surgery because of Diabetes, bad hips and Knee probs ????

Should read had Diabetes, bad hips and Knee probs due to weight issues so opted for Gastric band surgery.”

“Who are the "Bristol patients" mentioned in the headline? This story is about Bath and North East Somerset, not Bristol.”

“Have to agree with "ceembee" - as long as they receive the NHS care, which they will, why should it be in the Spire? Of course these people would prefer it to continue in the Spire's ambient setting and I think most people would too, but if this means added expense to the NHS bill, an NHS hospital will have to do. It is strange the report includes the sentence, "People who had gastric bands fitted for health reasons". Surely that is the only reason for this operation to reduce the burden on the NHS of those whose weight is causing other health concerns and consequently more NHS cost implications for their ongoing care.”

“These people are still being supported all be it by other facilities so fail to see the point of this non-story. The NHS is under severe financial pressure & it may well be cheaper for the NHS to monitor these individuals elsewhere. I think they should be profoundly thankful for the NHS - where would they be in a similar situation in for example USA or African countries? Get a grip folks and some perspective too.”