Weight loss prior to operations (FOI)

Request

A

Could you please tell me how many people have been told to lose weight before they can have an operation in Jersey?

B

Could you show the number of people who have had this advice over the past 5 years?

C

Could you explain what the planned operations were?

D

Could you explain how long they had to wait for treatment because of this?

E

Could you also let me know if anyone was unable to lose the weight and never got the treatment needed?

F

Could you explain the policy for when people are too over weight for surgery and why they are advised to lose weight before?

G

Can you also explain what help there is for people who are told they need to lose weight before they can go ahead with medical treatment and operations?

Response

A

It is not possible to give a definitive answer to this question as this information is not recorded. However all patients who have an elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) are advised to lose weight, as this is proven to improve outcomes following surgery.

B

It is not possible to give a definitive answer to this question as this information is not recorded.

C

The advice to lose weight is given to all patients with an elevated BMI who are due to have elective surgery. Patients undergoing lower limb joint replacements are recommended to have a BMI within normal range. Specifically, those patients who have a BMI of over 40 are not listed for total knee replacement surgery until their BMI is under 40.

D

It is not possible to give a definitive answer to this question as this information is not recorded. However if the surgery is not deemed to be urgent or life threatening then the patient will not be listed for surgery until a target weight is reached.

E

It is not possible to give a definitive answer to this question as this information is not recorded.

F

There is not a policy requiring patients to lose weight prior to surgery. Patients are advised to lose weight on an individual basis and relevant to the planned surgery. This advice is to reduce the likelihood of anaesthetic complications during surgery and to improve the outcomes following surgery.

G

Patients are offered a referral to the dietician and or to the exercise referral team. Patients declining these referrals are advised to seek help for their GP.