MP goes on attack over surgery cuts

Moving the criteria for obesity surgery to balance the books is shortsighted and will cost more in the long run, an Oldham MP has warned.

Debbie Abrahams, who represents Oldham East and Saddleworth, said the move was not cost effective and people suffering with severe weight problems would need access to more medical services in future if the problem was not tackled.

About a million people meet the criteria for bariatric surgery, but last year there were just 3,600 operations carried out.

Mrs Abrahams told Health secretary Andrew Lansley he should be “concerned that some of the measures PCTs are having to take are increasing the risks of cardiovascular disease for many patients”.

She added: “According to one survey published last week, demands for bariatric surgery have risen by 17 per cent but approvals for such surgery has fallen by 22 per cent.

“These are so-called efficiency savings as we heard from the Secretary of State, of £20 billion nationally and 4 per cent each year.”

Mrs Abrahams reiterated the plight of her constituent Peter Thornborrow who discovered the criteria for cataract surgery had been tightened as he was refused the operation despite his vision being so poor he could only see the world through a haze. The Labour MP, who has years of experience working in the NHS, fears proposed government health reforms will end the NHS as we know it.

Health professionals have expressed great concern over Andrew Lansley’s proposed reforms of the NHS. The Health and Social care Bill will hand powers to GPs to commission services in their area once the Primary care Trusts have been abolished.

Mrs Abrahams said: “Unamended, the bill threatens the founding principles of the NHS.”