Consultant surgeon: Bariatric surgery unit will 'give patients their lives back'
Weight loss surgery could be performed on NHS in NI
Last updated 23rd Mar 2019
Enniskillen could soon be home to a new NHS funded weight-loss surgery centre.
The Department of Health has set up a planning group to bring bariatric procedures to Northern Ireland.
Weight-loss surgeries are not currently available here but could be introduced by 2020, if proposals are passed.
The operations involve reducing the size of the stomach either with a gastric band, or by removing part of it and could become available on the NHS in Northern Ireland.
It is thought obesity costs health trusts here almost 500 million pounds a year.
Consultant surgeon Mark Taylor told Downtown Cool FM, the surgery can not only reduce someone's waistline, it can also help reverse some obesity-related conditions like type two diabetes:
"There is a massive amount of data showing that up to two thirds of people who have had... bariatric surgery who have type two diabetes, the type two diabetes is reversed.
"They become normoglycaemic again which means they're off their diabetic medication and their type two diabetes is resolved, and that happens up to two thirds of individuals, in a very short period of time after the surgery."
Doctors have warned that despite the benefits, it is still a major operation, which also requires a lifestyle change.
If approved, for the South West Acute hospital in Fermanagh, only those who meet certain criteria would be eligible.
A planning group will now look at how the Bariatric service could operate here, with recommendations expected in the summer.
Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly said: "Today’s announcement is a clear signal of intent from the Department.
"Establishing regional centres of excellence is a central pillar of our transformation programme for health and social care.
"Obesity is one of the most important public health issues facing Northern Ireland today. Being obese can reduce life expectancy by up to nine years and increase the risk of a range of health conditions including: heart disease and stroke; type 2 diabetes; some cancers, including postmenopausal breast cancer; mental health issues such as depression; and complications in pregnancy.
"There is also a significant financial impact for society, with the total estimated direct and indirect costs in Northern Ireland of overweight and obesity in 2015/16 estimated at around £457 million.
"This is a significant increase from the 2009/10 estimate of £268 million."