Come on NHS, what are you playing at??!!

I just have to get something off my chest. I am a member of the UK gastric band forum (an excellent forum for anyone who has not heard of it). The number of people, me included who have tried to get gastric bands through the NHS but hit brick walls is ridiculous!!

I just cant believe how difficult they make it for people to have the op on the NHS!! Every week you read in the papers what a drain obesity is putting on the NHS resources right now and that it will be a bigger problem for them in the future. Surely if Doctors can see on their records that weight has been an issue for a number of years and all diets and other options have been tried and exhausted, they should put people through the op process much more willingly and quicker?!! From what i have read, the average wait on the NHS route is 18mths to 2 years if you are lucky and you have to jump through hoops for that and face being rejected and having to appeal.

You just wonder what is wrong with these decision makers at the top that seem to make it so hard for us and be so reluctant, when we are so willing to sort out our weight problem, therefore reducing our risks of obesity related illnesses, therefore less potential for being a drain on the NHS in the future!! Oooh, i could explode i really could!! It does make you wonder why we work so hard and pay all this money in national insurance contributions on our wages when we cant call on the NHS when we so desperately need them. Sorry for my rant, it just makes me so mad and its so unfair.