Boom in Weight-loss Surgery Abroad Puts NHS in Crisis
- More patients are facing complications and requiring urgent care in the UK after undergoing weight-loss surgery abroad.
- Doctors at the BMA conference are calling for an increase in sugar tax to address the issue.
- The National Health Service is struggling to cope with the aftermath of medical tourism for obesity surgery.
The National Health Service (NHS) is facing challenges due to a surge in surgical tourism, with returning patients requiring help for complications, according to doctors. The British Medical Association (BMA) highlighted that more Britons are experiencing issues or even dying after undergoing cut-price obesity surgeries abroad. Concerns were raised about serious infections acquired from lower standards in some foreign clinics, with the internet and social media making it easier for individuals to arrange operations overseas. This trend has been fueled by a desire to present oneself a certain way, leading to an increase in health tourism as international travel becomes more accessible. The BMA conference emphasized the strain on the NHS as it deals with the aftermath of botched weight-loss surgeries performed abroad. Instances like the death of Morgan Ribeiro, who traveled to Turkey for gastric sleeve surgery, underscore the risks associated with medical tourism. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reported a significant rise in Brits needing medical treatment or corrective surgery post-surgery overseas, attributing this trend to a desire to emulate celebrity appearances. The financial burden on the health service to rectify these complications is substantial, with an estimated average cost of £15,000 per case. Doctors at the BMA conference called for an increase in the sugar tax to fund weight-management services and address the repercussions of surgical tourism. The demand for more weight management resources aims to reduce the reliance on NHS interventions to fix complications from surgeries performed abroad. Concerns were raised about the impact of delayed treatments for patients awaiting care, with the backlog of 7.6 million people exacerbating the strain on healthcare resources. The motion passed at the conference highlighted the need to address the rise in post-surgery complications and deaths resulting from the boom in surgical tourism, emphasizing the importance of maintaining standards and patient safety in medical procedures.