BARIATRIC SURGERY AFTERCARE, FOLLOWING SURGERY ABROAD
The LMC continues to be concerned regarding the invidious position that GPs are put in when patients contact a surgery expecting aftercare following private bariatric surgery whether in this country or abroad.
We have previous raised this with the ICB and will continue to do so until there is a satisfactory and clear local position. Aftercare is considered by NICE to normally be a specialist service, and it is inappropriate for general practices to be requested to provide this.
The ICB has previously advised that if a patient would have been eligible for bariatric surgery in LLR, then they can be referred for aftercare at UHL. If you refer a patient in this position and the referral is rejected, please inform the LMC. If a patient is not eligible, then they should be advised that they will need to seek the aftercare privately.
The NHS provides a ‘check list’ for patients to consider before travelling abroad for travel.