Online News Articles
Surgeons demand more gastric band operations to save Scotland from ‘diabetes timebomb’
TOP surgeons are calling for more gastric band operations in a bid to save the NHS.
They believe a diabetes timebomb could explode that, according to one doctor, threatens to “bankrupt” the health service.
But the surgeons have demanded greater regulation over cowboy practitioners who lure desperate patients in with promises of cut-price deals – and then abandon them after the op.
Doctors are particularly concerned about the soaring increase in Type 2 diabetes linked to obesity and lifestyle.
It brings problems with high blood pressure, joint replacement and heart trouble.
It is currently mostly treated with dietary advice and psychological help but there is growing support in favour of bariatric surgery, more commonly known as gastric band treatment.
Speaking yesterday in Glasgow, endocrinologist, Dr Stephen Gallacher, said: “Diabetes has the capacity to bankrupt the NHS and other ways of dealing with this problem have to be developed.
“The majority of financial costs of diabetes are around complications caused by bypass surgery or amputation. The risk of these things happening is driven by poor control of diabetes, poor control of blood pressure and cholesterol.
“Two studies just published both show that bariatric surgery is significantly better than medical therapy in terms of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and in terms of clinical benefits, these clearly add up.”
Diabetes already costs the NHS £9.8billion a year, of which 80 per cent goes towards treating complications. By 2035 the estimated cost to the NHS will be £16.8billion – 17 per cent of its entire budget.
There are currently 50,000 diabetes patients in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area alone – 90 per cent have Type 2 diabetes and in more than 80 per cent of cases it is caused by obesity.
Consultant surgeon John Smith explained: “In the Scottish NHS there were about 400 bariatric procedures last year so you can see the magnitude of the problem is never going to be properly addressed under the current provision.”
JEAN Sweeney had been battling her weight for years through diets and slimming clubs.
When her health took a turn for the worse last year, the 50-year-old nurse from East Kilbride knew it was time to take drastic action and decided to have a gastric band fitted.
“I took a very bad case of cellulitis while I was on holiday at the end of last year, and when I came back I had to be off work for weeks. Then just after Christmas I took a really bad chest infection. When I saw my GP she said she wanted to do a diabetes test and that was the end of it for me – I had to do something.
“I see people in the hospital all the time with the effects of diabetes and it’s just awful – it wasn’t going to be me.”
Then weighing 19st 7lb, Jean lost half-a-stone in the run-up to her gastric band operation in March this year. She underwent the procedure at the Nuffield Hospital in Glasgow, through their Assure weight-loss package. The package, which costs £5449 for a gastric band, includes two years of follow-up care with the additional support of a personal trainer and free gym membership.
Jean, a married mother-of-three, has lost 25lb since her gastric band was fitted but urges others not to undertake it lightly.
“You’ve got to want it to work. It’s a lot of money and it’s a complete life change – you can’t eat and drink whatever you like anymore. It’s worth it, but it’s hard,” she said.
Informed is empowered
At Assure we are keen to work with partners who are innovators in the field of weight loss management and surgery.
There are some other significant health benefits to reducing weight one of which is the management of type 2 diabetes. This new product will is being pioneered in Scotland by the team at Assure and if you want to find out how it works and whether it will be suitable for you click on the link below.
One of the newest developments is a Procedure called POSE which may suit some patients as it does not involve making any incisions or involve any stitches. One of the first people in the UK to have this surgery was Maureen Davies, watch her video and what she has achieved after this procedure and why she chose this procedure.
News articles on obesity issues and developments are being being released every day and we have attached a link to a charity called WLSinfo (weight Loss Surgery Information). This contains a host of the latest news articles on all aspects of weight management and also gives you access to some useful forums where you can get patient feedback and impartial advice. The link to WLSinfo is
