Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
£700k bill for gastric bands
Friday 20th August 2010, 11:30AM BST.
More than £700,000 of taxpayers’ money has been spent on gastric bands for obese people in one Black Country borough over the past year.
Current estimates show that by 2014 Sandwell could have more than 3,600 morbidly obese adults and if they all took up the option to have a gastric band fitted it – at a cost of £7,000 each – it would cost £25 million.
Figures from Sandwell Primary Care Trust show the body has spent almost £1.8 million on the procedures in the last four years.
Gordon Andrews, of Sandwell Primary Care Trust, said: “Although there are different types of surgery with lesser costs, the average cost is £7,000.
“Current estimates show that in 2014 we could have over 3,600 morbidly obese adults in Sandwell.
“The option of this surgery for this many people is implausible, and it would cost the NHS around £25 million.
“To stop the situation reaching this point we are determined to support people to eat healthily and participate in more physical activity.”
Gastric banding is a surgical procedure that involves fitting a band around the upper part of the stomach. Mr Andrews added: “Obesity is a growing problem in the UK, and not just in Sandwell.”
Fiona McEvoy, spokeswoman for spending watchdog the Tax Payers’ Alliance, said: “Treatments that can allow overweight people to ignore responsibility for their own health shouldn’t be prioritised when resources are scarce.
“With so many obese people in the borough the potential drain on NHS resources is huge so rather than take these measures, those risking bad health should be encouraged to lose weight the old fashioned way, by eating less and exercising more.”
Sponsored Links
Most Commented
- Host of clubs chasing Wolves star Matt Jarvis
- Wolves confirm interest in Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson
- Chris Hughton still favourite but Albion will not be rushed
- Ray Wilkins in shock link with West Brom job
- Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson 'will have ideal grounding at Wolves'
- Bjorn: 'I'd love to play for Wolves'
- Danny Batth: 'My heart is still set on making the Wolves first-team'
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
I think these people should look after themselves, the tax payer should not be footing the bill for any surgery like this.
Self control costs nothing.
Report abuse
what about those people who cant lose weight the old fashioned way there is people out there who cant do it the normal way,people shouldn t be so quick to judge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report abuse
Well Im fat, always have been big and “overweight” (I was 17.5 stone after 5 years in the Army, so don’t fall into the trap of confusing being fat with automatically being unfit!) and I cant lose weight the “old fashioned way” either, but, neither would I expect the NHS to pay for a gastric band, its a health service, not Jim’ll Fix It, its supposed to be a safety net for health problems, not a make a wish, for the likes of fertility treatment or tattoo removals, if you want these things done, fine, pay for it your self.
Report abuse
If any treatment is provided under the NHS it is after careful medical consideration. How does your 5 years in the army qualify you to decide that any treatment is a luxury? Or do you have an opinion but aren’t really qualified in the matter like many people posting on this page!!
Report abuse
Who said anything about my five years in the Army qualified me to make a comment on whether a treatment was a luxury?, can you read? if so read it again? So, if you wanted (not needed) a penis extension Jimbo, on psychological grounds for example, because your current one was making you depressed, do you think every one else should contribute to make your wish come true, or do you think its fairer that the individual pays for such things? And as for having an opinion, I don’t know your circumstances, but Iam a tax payer, having to foot the bill for these treatments, I think that gives me aright to comment, don’t you, as I said, when its payed for privately, then it does not, simples.
Report abuse
Operations like this should not be performed on the NHS when there are cancer patients who are going without drugs due to funding.
though weight was quite easy to control… a excess of calories used by work or exercise over calories consumed and hey presto !!
Report abuse
OBESE FOLK ARE TAX PAYERS TOO!!!!!!!
Report abuse
so are drink drivers, by your argument because they are tax payers its ok for them to smash themselves up in a car crash, and cost the NHS thousands in fixing them again, but that’s ok, because as you said, they are tax payers?, you cant level the same argument at smokers, as the duty they pay raises more than it costs to run the whole NHS each year (20 a day, £3 duty, £21p.w., you can get a lot of B.U.P.A. for that), with the added bonus that they have the good grace to die younger and wont be a burden on the state when they are older, like “healthier” non smokers are, i.e. pensions, hip replacements etc etc, plus if they do manage to need help at a younger age a lot of hospitals will refuse treatment for the very fact that they are smokers, its simple mathematics, fat people eat more calories than their body uses (and I include myself in this group) they are not necessarily greedy, or idle, they are just eating more fuel than their body uses, its got nothing to do with “big bones” or “hereditary” or “their glands” if that was the case you would see pictures of fat people in Belsen, Auschwitz, Birkenau, or more recently during the Ethiopian famine, you ever seen any? no, me neither.
Report abuse
If people want these fitted then they have two options, save and pay for private treatment or go on a diet/exercise regime and stop eating so much and not ask for help.
Let’s get it clear, you are all born similar, you do not have “big bones” there is no such thing and it’s not hereditary. It is how and what you eat and drink that makes you fat in the first place.
I also think the word obese should be phased out, fat people use it as a tag for a medical excuse for being fat in the first place.
Report abuse
All that money when a few extra buckets of kfc smuggled into the hospital willl do the trick much cheaper :)
Report abuse
All those saying they shouldnt be able to get this surgery on the NHS are missing one MAJOR point.
What if these “fat” people have been in and out of hospital for other illnesses relating to their weight? Joint problems etc.
Surely this one off cost makes more financial sense in the long run than having them in and out of hospital every few months for weight related illnesses.
Even if they havent had illnesses previously, wouldnt it make sense to give them a gastirc band to save money down the line should they ever need treatment.
Report abuse
Surely there must be some type of anti-hunger medicine by now ?
Report abuse
I was told i couldnt have a band as i was not fat enough and at 19 and a half stone i couldnt believe what i was told so my doctor referred me to weight watchers with the vouchers and I’m so glad that he did as Ive now lost 4 and a half stone and still losing I’m so glad i didn’t have a gastric band as i now know how to eat correctly and healthy. with the band your life is so restricted i do feel perhaps some people think its the easy way out i did but Ive worked hard for my weight loss
Report abuse
Well done Sharon, learning to eat a proper diet and exercise is a much better option than having surgery and the related risks. Good luck in your future efforts.
Report abuse
With this help available looks like i am going to have to reconsider opening my all you can eat buffet restaurant in the sandwell borough
Report abuse
There is another arguement what about those who lose the weight the old fashioned way? do the nhs foot the bill for the surgery to get rid of excess skin which you get by the loss of the weight.
people on the whole are getting fatter because we are getting lazy and eating more calorific foods to excess, i would say it is societies problem not just the individuals. i do also think that it should be only offered to those who say weigh over a certain amount.
Report abuse
if the government hadnt put things into the chickens, proceessed foods, that are no good,
gm foods and other frankenstine foods to make people
fat, put up these fast food stores, we wouldnt be this way, and the junk they brought out like crisps, chocolate, cakes, etc
low fat foods and diet pops, we wouldnt be in this mess. the money gos on there lifestyle.
some its no fault of there own.
Report abuse
I laugh. Yet again Sandwell Council would rather pussy foot around real issues, and instead focus on “convenient” demographics. People in this region can barely afford to eat..you’re spending millions propping up the immigration racket, the defense racket, the bankers, the overseas aid budget. You want to slice some fat? Look towards the old boy’s club. Better not go there, eh.
Report abuse
some people need these op s ….and will save the nhs thousands in the long run like diabetics can be cured…….so u will help really thin people on nhs who have done it to themselves but not a fat person , this also is an eating disorder in many cases……i pay taxes and think if these ops save money in the long run …carry on !!
Report abuse