From next April NHS weight loss surgery will be restricted by limiting treatment to people who either have diabetes or a BMI over 50. These criteria are tighter than the NICE guidelines and much tigheter than the criteria that apply for private patients. The new criteria reflect the squeeze on NHS resources that is impacting lots of areas of surgery. The implications of an ageing population and conflicting priorities means that Trusts have little option but to apply eligibility criteria that is tighter than that indicated by NICE. Read more about eligibility for weight loss surgery here.
