A GP has launched an attack against the government's postcode lottery approach to obesity treatment, insisting that not enough people have access to surgery.
Although
obesity surgery is recommended for patients whose body mass index (BMI) exceeds 40, York and North Yorkshire PCT's guidelines mean that only those with a BMI in excess of 50 will be eligible for treatment on the NHS.
There are currently 23 patients awaiting obesity surgery in the area, but Dr David Fair, a GP at Jorvik Medical Practice, told the Yorkshire Press that many more patients ought to be offered the procedure.
"The thing that worries me is that we have a postcode lottery, where we have patients in other PCT areas able to have surgery if they want, while patients in York can't get it," he explained.
Dr Fair pointed out that, since everyone pays the same level of tax, all patients should receive the same healthcare.
He added that the situation is "the Department of Health's fault for allocating the budgets in an unfair manner".
Gastric banding and gastric bypass operations are offered to patients who have failed to achieve significant weight-loss using other methods and whose health is at risk as a result.
Obesity news : 28/06/2007
