Private surgery going wrong - NHS stepping in

So what are your views on people needing surgery and care after skiing accidents abroad?

The NHS does not get to pick and choose who it helps. There's a description in the book "This going to hurt" of a patient who got drunk, stood on top of a bus shelter, then slid down a telephone pole, the anti-vandal paint on which caused a degloved penis. Was that patient more or less deserving of NHS care than people who've sought medical help abroad?

The NHS is there to fix what's broken, to the extent they reasonably can. If the level of stupidity or other culpability of the patient in becoming broken would not normally be an obstacle to them being treated, I don't see why a decision to seek medical care abroad should treated differently.

Well like PP above says, if you don’t treat someone when they’re suffering major complications post surgery then they will die.
So are you comfortable with leaving someone to die because they chose to get their tits done in turkey? I’m personally not comfortable with that.

NHS isn’t here to make moral decisions on whether someone deserves treatment based on WHY they got ill.

We could extend that to include alcoholics, drug addicts, racing drivers, DIY enthusiasts….

An insurance situation would certainly be better - to qualify for surgery abroad it should be regulation to have an insurance policy. This can then be claimed on and paid to NHS directly.

They remove your stomach, Jesus Christ 🙈

It makes no difference that they are going abroad. Paid for surgery in the UK falls to the NHS when it goes wrong as well. Private hospitals do not do acute/emergency/high dependency care.

Don't fall for the headlines.

The same people could pay for the same surgery in this country. If they suffered the same complications they would be treated by the same NHS service as they are being now. It is all smoke and mirrors designed to give someone to "blame" (other than the government) for the state things are in.

@justasking111 sorry gastric bypass, where the stomach is removed

@Waveacrossabay what is a bypass?

I can see this from both sides to be honest. I can understand the attraction of going abroad.

For example, I have wanted breast reduction surgery since the age of 14 when I was already a 32G and dealt with nasty comments and unwanted attention from that point until now (I'm now 33 and a 34HH) I have constant backache, shoulder pain and muscular indents in both shoulders from the scaffolding style bras I have to wear to support them. I've taken painkillers for years and had years of physio out of my own pocket, plus of course the sometimes debilitating anxiety, lack of confidence, and often vile sexual remarks from strange men when merely going about my daily life.

Will the NHS help me? Of course not, I've tried 5 different doctors across 4 GP surgeries across 3 counties - not one of them would even refer me due to my case not being "severe" enough. I could NEVER afford this surgery privately in the UK, its a minimum of 8k and I will never have that sort of money, nor the ability to borrow it. I could have it done within Europe for less than half of that - I don't see why I should not get treatment if surgery went wrong, when they wouldn't help me in the first place 🙈

@justasking111 because it's cheaper. 15k for a bypass here.

3k including flights, hotel stay for you and a friend and the surgery in turkey.

And like @Nap1983 says, we'll reverse the surgery, but we won't re do it, so infected breast implants won't be put back in, and they won't get any implants at all.

Our health board are farming out surgery to the private sector to put their mistake right but also to reduce their waiting lists.

Years ago you went to France for private surgery to save money, why is Turkey now the place to go?

A family friend had a operation on his spine at a private hospitals and had a heart attack after surgery. They had to transfer him to the NHS hospital for treatment as the private hospital didn't have an intensive care unit.
More difficult if they have gone overseas for cosmetic surgery I'm not sure the NHS should be picking the tab up for that.

She is very unwell, she does keep saying 'I'm just getting back what I put in, I'm entitled to this, I've put lots of money into the nhs, I'm getting my moneys worth now'

It must be wildly frustrating for people like @Nap1983 to have to mop up after this type of surgery, particularly the solely cosmetic procedures. But yes, people do all kinds of things that cause themselves health problems, whether or the immediate fell over pissed or longer term lifestyle issues, and I don’t think you can cut this sub-group out exclusively.

But if you are actively choosing surgery abroad, your risks are higher than someone who is skiing or horseriding.

Also, most people travelling to far flung countries are getting travel insurance.

Hopefully by raising awareness of the potential complications it will make people twice about travelling abroad for cheap surgery especially when the surgery is purely cosmetic

I have seen a few horror stories in the press recently and that can only be a good thing

It is obviously a big problem for the NHS but it wouldn't be ethical to refuse to treat people with nasty infections etc just because it has resulted from non essential surgery

As others have pointed out there are plenty of illnesses and injuries which you could argue are self inflicted but where would you draw the line

My MIL spent all her savings on a private hip replacement in a BUPA hospital. Due to poor aftercare she had complications and they swiftly turfed her out to the NHS.
It's why I would never have private surgery.

The NHs is forever dealing with fallout from people doing dumb stuff. Firstly it seems a bit harsh to pick out surgery when (to pick just one example) good old "Pissed And Fell Over" is hardly rare in A&E.
Secondly, imagine the admin...

I'm a firm believer in the saying "you get what you pay for". There are reasons it's so much cheaper, and at least part of it will be due to lower standards.

But the same surgeon in London is doing the surgery in Turkey, but for £10,000 less.

Why?

Women can't get breast reduction on the NHS even if it impacts them, but they will pop breast implants in TIMs

I have become healthier by losing weight, so why can't I get help? Even if it was 50/50

The idea of insurance is interesting but it's like a lot of these issues in that it's difficult to know where to draw the line.
Should all cyclists, climbers, and horse riders have insurance in case they get injured? As a PP mentioned what about skiers? What about anyone who goes to a far flung country who contracts a disease or infection.

Medical ethics are tricky,

I am with Discovereads there should be some kind of compulsory insurance for people who opt for treatment abroad.

@MrMrsJones I understand what you are saying, but cheaper isn't cheaper if you end up in hospital in the UK ...

That's a good point about the cost @MrMrsJones , I wonder what makes it so much higher in the UK, labour costs maybe.

I dont understand the hate. When I quit working in the hospital they were in the process of buying bigger "shelving" for the undercroft morgue because patients were getting heavier. Weight impacts all aspects of healthcare and the costs add up.

Tbh I don’t think it’s that different to the NHS having to treat people when they return injured from skiing holidays or the likes.

when it comes to emergencies and people needing care then and there then there can’t be a hierarchy of “well you did that to yourself so we can’t help” imo.