Summary
A recent study by the Bariatric and Obesity Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS) has revealed that bariatric tourism, where individuals travel abroad for weight-loss surgery, is costing the UK's National Health Service (NHS) significantly more than the cost of performing the surgery itself. The study, which followed 35 patients who experienced complications after bariatric surgery abroad, found that the average cost of treating these complications was £16,006 per patient, a figure that could have funded 110 bariatric surgeries in the UK. This has prompted concerns about the NHS's role in providing care for patients who undergo surgery abroad, particularly given that many of these patients would not have qualified for surgery in the UK due to not meeting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria. The BOMSS has issued a public warning about the risks of bariatric tourism, urging individuals to carefully consider the potential savings against the risks, and the Department of Health is working to develop advice to inform people about the potential challenges and risks associated with medical tourism.
Financial and Healthcare Implications of Bariatric Tourism for the NHS
The sources highlight several financial and healthcare implications of bariatric tourism for the NHS:
Increased costs: The NHS incurs significant costs treating complications arising from bariatric surgeries performed abroad. A study of 35 patients in five London hospitals found that the cost of treating complications was £16,006 per patient, totaling £560,234 in 2022. This amount could have funded approximately 110 bariatric surgeries within the UK.
Strain on resources: Patients returning with complications from bariatric tourism require extensive medical care, including prolonged hospital stays, further surgeries, and revisional surgeries. The average hospital stay for the 35 patients in the study was 22 days, and five patients required feeding tubes. This influx of patients needing complex care puts additional strain on NHS resources and staff.
Ethical considerations: The sources raise ethical questions regarding the NHS's obligation to treat patients who develop complications after undergoing bariatric surgery abroad, particularly when those patients may not have met the criteria for surgery within the NHS. Over half of the 35 patients studied would likely have been ineligible for surgery on the NHS, and almost 60% did not meet the National Institute for Care and Excellent (NICE) criteria. This raises concerns about whether the NHS is inadvertently incentivising bariatric tourism by providing a safety net for patients who experience complications.
The sources also outline the reasons behind the rise of bariatric tourism:
Long NHS waiting lists: Patients may opt for surgery abroad due to lengthy wait times for bariatric surgery within the NHS.
Lower costs: Bariatric surgery is significantly cheaper in countries like Turkey, where it can cost as little as £2,000, compared to £10,000-£15,000 for private surgery in the UK.
While the sources acknowledge the NHS's duty to treat patients in need, they also emphasize the need for a broader public policy discussion on how to address the challenges posed by bariatric tourism
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