Obese patients and smokers will face NHS surgery delays

Hospitals across England could delay operations to obese patients and smokers, after NHS officials approved proposals in Yorkshire.

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above will be asked to lose weight or face a 12-month delay for non-urgent surgery, the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group announced.

Smokers will be asked to quit for two months or face a postponement for six months.

NHS England yesterday agreed to the decision, meaning the policy could be rolled out across the country, doctors have warned.

Clare Marx, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, accused NHS England of giving the “wrong approach and frankly shocking [policy] the thumbs up at a national level”.

“Decisions about whether to treat a patient should be based on their need and not arbitrary criteria about weight and smoking status which explicitly contradict guidance from both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the RCS,” she added.

The North Yorkshire CCG said that decisions would be made on a “case-by-case basis”.

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The CCG said: “Smokers and obese patients that need routine surgery, but do not wish to access the support services or fail to meet the criteria will not be denied their operation, but it could mean they have to wait longer than they otherwise would have done.”

An NHS England spokeswoman said: “Vale of York CCG has made clear its commitment to supporting patients to achieve better health and clinical outcomes by referring them to an established weight loss or stopping smoking programme, where appropriate.

“However, every patient’s case will be considered in the light of their own particular circumstances and on the basis of clinical need.”