Free gastric bands plea issued by MP
Morbidly obese people in Shropshire should be given free gastric bands on the NHS, it has been claimed. Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said he believes the surgery should be given to people who need it free of charge.
He said there were dozens of people in the area who were in desperate need of the potentially life-saving surgery, but could not afford it.
He said: "A number of people come to me and say they need this surgery but can't afford it and can't get it on the NHS.
"It is often people who are large through no fault of their own, be it through health problems or maybe hereditary and they are denied this treatment, which I think is wrong."
One woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was in desperate need of the treatment which involves an inflatable silicone device that is placed around the top portion of the stomach in order to treat obesity.
The Shrewsbury-based woman said: "I have been overweight for all of my life and am desperate to receive a gastric band.
"I am morbidly obese and know that without the treatment my life expectancy is going to get shorter and shorter. Without the surgery I could be dead within a matter of years," said the 43-year-old.
"I believe my problem is from my metabolism which is from my parents who were also very large.
"I cannot afford the surgery privately and, unless it is made available to me through the NHS, I don't know what to do."
Gastric band surgery is designed for obese patients with a body mass index of 40 or greater, or between 35 and 40 in cases of patients with certain conditions that are known to improve with weight loss, such as sleep apnoea, diabetes, osteo-arthritis or a metabolic syndrome.
Mr Kawczynski added: "I really do think something needs to be done to help these people get the treatment they require."
By Andrew Morris
