General Chat

NHS may refuse to treat drinkers and smokers:

People who drink, smoke or are overweight could be denied treatment on the NHS, according to controversial guidance from a government watchdog. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said that doctors should avoid discriminating against patients with conditions that are, or may be, self-inflicted. But their report said that if self-inflicted factors meant that drugs or treatment would be less clinically and cost-effective, this may need to be considered when producing advice for the NHS. NICE said: 'If the self-inflicted cause of the condition will influence the likely outcome of a particular treatment, then it may be appropriate to take this into account in some circumstances.' The report comes after it emerged last month that obese people will not be entitled to hip and knee replacement surgery on the NHS in East Suffolk. The ruling came as part of a series of measures to be taken by the three primary care trusts in the area in an attempt to save money locally for the NHS. It is believed that the risks of operating on obese patients are higher and the treatment may be less effective, with replacement joints wearing out sooner. YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE

Blimey - round that old cherry again! Smoking and drinking are said to addictions Addiction is said to be an illness Illness should be treated on the NHS I smoke , i chose to , (i like to think i dont have to but...) would i EXPECT the NHS to treat me? Dunno. Where would it stop? Would they not treat me for a chest infection as I had contributed to it? jess

I wonder if the people they refuse to treat will be able to refuse to pay the taxes that go towards treatment on the nhs? I think not!! Julia

Not sure what to think. I think that people who have transplants and then go on to drink are a waste of the doctors time, time which could be spent doing someone elses operation, but i am not sure i agree with what has been said.. what if you were overweigh due to thyroid or other medical conditions, would they refuse you then? how can they access whether it is self inflicted or not? is drinking a medical condition (alcoholism) or self inflicted? they'll have to be very careful in who they refuse. xx

Like Jess said where do you stop. So if you are hurt doing a sport is that self inflicated. The list could be endless. Germaine x

How to empty casuality dept on a saturday night... ''Dr , i think i have broken my arm'' ''How?'' '' well i was in the pub'' ...BYE G G Granny on christmas afternoon... '' think my Grand mother has broken her Hip'' ''how did it happen?'' ''She fell over little Johhnys game boy'' ''BYE!''- that is self inflicted - she should have picked up the game boy

I think if they refuse to treat someone and consequently that person dies, then that is murder! Also if they refuse to treat someone, they should refuse to take money from them in the first place. Its just a load of rubbish, they should get on with the job they are paid to do and stop trying to play God. June xx

Jess, you put it so well. Couldnt agree more. Donna

Given that, if the Government's own statistics are right (Oh yeah?), most of the adult population of this country are overweight, a large proportion drink and a significant number smoke, if they're all denied treatment on the NHS, Uncle Gordon's going to have quite a lot of extra cash to put towards plugging the huge gap between reality and his own spending forecasts, isn't he? Of course it's not 'morally right', but that doesn't seem to count for much these days! >*|*<

No it's not morally right.

going on from the sunday footballer........... most sportspersons are encouraged to take out some kind of accident/liabilty insurance, to cover any extra costs of treatment.....like in case I accidentally shoot myself, in the foot, or even worse, someone else.....rally drivers ..........racers.....flying clubs.....etc.all have to have insurance.of some sort...... But having paid into the government scheme for 45-50 years I would expect to be treated for whatever ailment that occurs, Bob.

The fat chap on the news the other night was being refused a hip operation. He is 70 and has paid his wack into the system. Wonder if they will re-imburse his contribution? In this and many other ways, the country is going wacky. Happy days

The fat chap on the news the other night was being refused a hip operation. He is 70 and has paid his wack into the system. Wonder if they will re-imburse his contribution? In this and many other ways, the country is going wacky. Happy days

I'm glad we're all in agreeance...it infuriates me to think that the NHS Trusts have the right and in the case of Suffolk NHS the POWER to refuse people. My father was a thin 18yr old who had a serious mortorbike accident in hospital for quite a while and then out of action for 18 months thereafter. the result of which has left him with a dodgy leg ( shorter than the other ) . He has been in need of a hip op since his 50's . He is a tall overweight man and was asked to loose weight before his a hip op............ he has tried so very hard and now aged 60 has been refused as overweight...... he's mobility would improve greatly with this op.......... He has never taken a sickie in his life ..... I could whack the authorities I really could!!!

Of course morally wrong & it is not up to any health workers to stand in anyone's judgement. I cannot see that this will be accepted or agreed. Let's face it at the end of the day it will be discrimination against themselves as I am sure many health workers smoke drink & are obese too. Pat x

Sadly Pat it would appear that it has in east Suffolk : 'The report comes after it emerged last month that obese people will not be entitled to hip and knee replacement surgery on the NHS in East Suffolk.'

Amazing isn't it? given the amount of revenue the Government make from smokers and drinkers ???? So if we are to be refused treatment - do we get the option to opt out of NI contributions as recompense?? No, I doubt it !!!

Deborah - yours is an ironic tale - the best way to loose weight they keep telling us, is to be active !!!! How can he be in his position - crazy !!!

This is just getting stupid. Clearly there has to be limits to make sure that treatment is cost effective but every case is individual. It is wrong to say smokers wont be treated or drinker brought it upon them selves. Presumably on this basis no sexually transmitted diseases will be treated all now, and abortion is well and truly off the NHS agenda?