Lose weight and stop smoking or face op delay, patients to be told

November 29, 2016

The Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group have announced the plans
Patients with a BMI of 30 will be asked to lose weight or face a year wait
While smokers will be asked to quit for 2 months or face a 6-month delay
However, the rules won’t apply to emergency surgery or to children

Mail Online Reporter

Published:
02:49 EST, 29 November 2016

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Updated:
05:15 EST, 29 November 2016

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Obese people and smokers could miss out on routine operations after controversial plans were approved by health chiefs.

Patients with a BMI of 30 will be asked to lose weight or face a 12-month delay for routine surgery.

While smokers will be asked to quit for two months or face a six-month postponement, the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) announced.

However, the rules won’t apply to emergency and bariatric surgery or to those under the age of 18, it says.

And each patient will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis when the plan comes into force in January.

Patients with a BMI of 30 will be asked to lose weight or face a 12-month delay for routine surgery, the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group announced

The CCG said: ‘Smokers and obese patients that need routine surgery, but do not wish to access the support services or fail to meet the criteria will not be denied their operation, but it could mean they have to wait longer than they otherwise would have done.’

It serves a population of more than 351,000 in areas including York, Selby and Tadcaster.

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CCG clinical lead Dr Shaun O’Connell, who is also a GP, said the plans bring the ‘best possible health outcomes in the long term’.

He added: ‘There is no ban and no blanket policy – people who do not wish to access the support services or fail to meet the criteria will not be denied their operation, decisions about what is in the best interests of their health, will be made on a case-by-case basis.’

While smokers will be asked to quit for two months or face a six-month postponement

Earlier this year, NHS England intervened in the policy after the Royal College of Surgeons raised concerns that proposals went against clinical guidance and made smokers and overweight patients soft targets for financial savings.

But the public body has now approved the plan.

An NHS England spokeswoman said: ‘Vale of York CCG has made clear its commitment to supporting patients to achieve better health and clinical outcomes by referring them to an established weight loss or stopping smoking programme, where appropriate.

‘However, every patient’s case will be considered in the light of their own particular circumstances and on the basis of clinical need.’