Should smokers and fat people be denied treatment on the NHS unless they make radical changes to their lifestyle?

[Mrbojangles1]

My objection is not that people smoke or are fat people should do whatever makes them happy as long as they are legal and not inflicting their bad habits on children.

My thing is if these people are not refused treatment and they continue to smoke or over eat their medical condition is very likey to come back or counting thus treating a condition with out change is a waste of money.

Also my oh who works for nhs tells me giving somone who is fat anersetic (sp) is very dangerous the amount to knock them out can often be lethal

Also I think we should be helping people take ownership of their own health

Personally I wouldnt want some one who wouldn't commit to stop somking to have a new heart.

What do you all think
Ps this is not about the wrongs or rights of somking or being aft but about should we expect people to commit to change in order to take up the precious time of surgeons, nurses, doctors and Nhs staff?

Hello folks. Just a heads-up that this thread was started in 2012...

It's one of them undeads innit?

oops

Helen does MNHQ have any plans to lock threads after...say 6 months?

That way they can stay for reference...and people can even start their own thread and link to them if they really want to.

But for the love of baby cheeses, why are they not locked?

@WorraLiberty

Helen does MNHQ have any plans to lock threads after...say 6 months?

That way they can stay for reference...and people can even start their own thread and link to them if they really want to.

But for the love of baby cheeses, why are they not locked?

No we don't at the mo. Because there have been some really nice threads where folks have reactivated them after a while

OP: "if the illness is preventable by loosing weight then they should do so."
Which illnesses, do you think , are preventable by weight/size/obesity? NAME THEM, please. I can't WAIT for this

OP:"my uncle lost his foot due to having diabetes type 2 he cut his foot it wouldnt heal, then got infected "

Right, as a diabetic, my whole life, diagnosed at aged 1, type 1, (my dh is a type 2) I can't wait toihear your ignoramous views on what you REALLY know about diabetes. circulalation, commoness of amputee'ism. Please, I'm biting at the bit. Tell me. I'm all ears.

I can't wait for this........

Only if u cut out anyone who drinks too.

OP Flunked? BUGGER

ZOMBIE THREAD alert.

Op isn't the real MrBojangles, surely?

Because MrBojangles is as ancient as me. And this is a piss-take, surely?

oh bugger. Thanks Lady.

I live in the US and have (thank God) private medical insurance through my job. When you apply for life or medical insurance you have to pay more, or can even get denied if you smoke, have pre-existing conditions etc.
Because insurance companies know that you are more likely to suffer from certain illnesses if you smoke or are very overweight they have started taking preventative measures. As a result my husband and I get our gym membership reimbursed by my insurance company.
So OP- you brought up an interesting point! I do believe people should take more responsibility for their actions and health, but absolutely don't agree in denying them healthcare when they've chosen not too. Too bad insurance companies don't feel the same way...

I'm an NHS worker and we are obliged now to ask all smokers if they would consider being referred to Smoking Cessation Clinics.

It is one of the most difficult things to broach because although a few (very few) will say "Oh yes I really want to give up" most don't.
And as they are all adults (I don't treat children) and they all know the risks , then really, alot of it is down to them.

I did ask though at a SSC staff meeting about the old hoarey chestnut "Oh smokers pay so much tax, therefore entitled to XYZ treatment".

The SSC staff said that minimal amount of this tax reaches the NHS so that blasts the theory out of the water.

But , I would say. How many people get to 40, 50, 60 and wouldn't say "I wish I'd stopped smoking or lost the weight in my 20s/30s not carried on all these years"?

SSC should be SCC (watching telly and typing. !

I work with very overweight NHS staff who also smoke. All of them can spell better than you, OP.

If the govt supported people in having healthier lifestyles rather than supporting food retailers and manufacturers in pushing unhealthy food onto us then it still would not be fair to deny treatment to people because they are overweight or smoke.

Have all the villages released their idiots onto MN this week?