Overweight patient denied NHS operation by York CCG

[Northerner]

A hip replacement patient took an £11,500 loan to pay for an operation after the NHS postponed treatment due to his weight.

Roland Crooke was in "huge pain" when he was denied surgery by Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group [CCG].

The group's guidelines mean anyone with a body mass index higher than 30 must lose weight or wait a year for non-emergency procedures.

Bosses from the organisation said it has to make difficult decisions.

Mr Crooke, 67, told councillors on a City of York health, housing and adult social care committee that he was just weeks away from surgery when he learnt about the BMI guidelines.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46568314

 

[trophywench]

I received a lecture when I had my pre-med to have the scaffolding taken out of my knee next Tuesday, as I was told in no uncertain terms not to smoke on the day of the op 'otherwise they won't operate'. Err, so how do you assess whether I'm telling the truth that day? Not that I will anyway, stupid idea to do so before a GA I should think, meself!

They gave me plenty of time to do what I need to do - but they know full well that no-one can lose 5 stone in a week and if the presence of too much excess weight is going to cause problems with his recovery (cos they knew what needed to done so they must know pretty damn well if it will) surely to God they should have told him 'unless it's life or death, we won't operate until your weight or BMI or whatever has got down to X' at the outset?

 

[Amigo]

It can pay dividends. We have a friend with type 2 diabetes who has been waiting a year for a hip replacement. It galvanised him to lose weight and he’s now lost 4 stone and managed to come off all diabetic medication.
Truth is, seriously overweight people are more at risk and the surgery is much more likely to be successful with a weight reduction.
Problem is, it’s hard to exercise with a knackered hip but our friend was actually given free swimming sessions on the NHS.
It worked! 😛

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I do wonder how he didn't know that being overweight would be detrimental to his recovery from surgery. After all it isn't exactly a state secrete is it?

He could have looked at his diet a bit more and there are loads on non weight bearing exercises he could have done to reduce his weight even further.

 

[mikeyB]

I was actually due for a left hip replacement. Got the letter to go in the week before we were due to move south. They knew full well I couldn’t exercise either before or after the op. They were going to use a non standard size of hip ball and socket to reduce the risk of dislocation, which is the risk if you don’t strengthen the muscles. So there is a joint for the less mobile.

I’m not bothering going on a waiting list down here till I get a diagnosis for the neuro problems. It doesn’t hurt much anyway if the leg is dead straight, which is the only way I can weight bear - if I bend the knee, without a stick, I’d fall over.