Excellent news for British bandsters

Many Brits are, like me, self pay. Our national health service only offers fully paid for was for the very, very high BMI people or those with serious co-morbidities.

My (private) doc always told me that the NHS would pick up my treatment free of charge if I needed emergency surgery but I assumed it would not cover routine care.

I was wrong! My private doc told me that I should ask my GP (family doctor) to refer me to the NHS for my annual barium swallow, saving me a lot of money. My GP was happy to do so and I was referred to the clinic at my local community hospital. And today I had my appointment.

I have now been fully registered with the clinic. They will do any fills or unfits I require; a fill can be arranged within a couple of weeks, an unfill much sooner if urgent, a day or so.

I can see the dietician if I wish and they will make routine 6 monthly follow up appts and my routine annual barium swallow is booked.

As my original doc told me, any surgery which might be required to reposition, remove or repair my band is all covered.

And being NHS there is no charge for anything.

So any Brits out there, when your pre-paid package ends, go to your GP.

I apologise for typos. I am learning my new iPad and for some reason I can't scroll back up to the top of the message to check it. So on the preview I can see I typed was when I meant wls. But I can't get back to alter it!

Kate

 wow that's great news and great for your pocketbook!

an ipad? i'm soooooo jealous!

Marl, my ipad2 is the very best "toy" I have ever had. I am absolutely, totally hooked. It makes my desktop look antiquated!

But it doesn't get on with OH. You have to switch editor every time and can only scroll the entire page, not just the message field. This seems to be the only site with issues - other people tell me they go on other boards with no problem.

But if it is an option, get one! I saved up for mine by doing some extra cover teaching ( I am supposed to be retired!) and it was worth every minute worked.

OH is not super iPad friendly, I find :(

No, it isn't. In fact it's a pain. First changing edit each time in order to post, can't answer PMs, can't scroll to top of long message, can only edit what is actually in the box.

I did contact OH and they said they are working on it. Must be solutions as other boards are fine - not used others myself but friends who have say there are no problems at all.

Trouble is that after using my iPad, I hate using the desktop- feels archaic.

well,  your post again shows me how lucky I actually was! My BMI was just over 40, and I didn't have any obesity-related illnesses, and my surgery was fully covered by NHS! Having said that, I think my experience at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was about the worst hospital experience I ever had. At least my surgery went well though :)

Wow, you WERE lucky! I had been much bigger but when I started to look into wls my BMI was 43 and my only co-morb was controlled high bp. No NHS for me!

But that was over 5 years ago. N.I.C.E. hadn't got going and as it has now approved the band as safe, effective and value for money, things may be changing. Makes sense that it should as long term it has to cost effective if people aren't obese.

Shame about your hospital! The hospital which has taken me over is our little local community hospital. The consultants come out from the nearest major city hospital. It is only about three miles from where I live and was only built three years ago. I know being new does not guarantee good treatment but it does boost morale and make staff more enthusiastic!

I am so impressed by the promise of such quick appts if I need fills or unfills I am veryunlikely ever to need a fill but it is always reassuring to know things get done quickly!

How are things going for you?

Kate