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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think help with losing weight should be based on clinical need not on eligibility for free prescriptions

135 replies

finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 19:38

So My bmi is 38. I have recently bern diagnosed with a condition ehich is likely to need surgery. My gp has advised me thst they may not be happy with my weight. Well neither am I. So I asked for some support with losing weight. I was expecting to be offered regular weigh in with a HCA. Instead I was told by the receptionist that they now do a Slimming World Referral. Even better I thought until I discovered thst I do not qualify as I am not in receipt of free prescriptions. Now I get it is fair to offer to those less abke to psy but it is slso provided for people eith a medical exemption. well both my dh and I have long term conditions which require us to pay for prescriptions. If we had different conitions they would be free and I would be entitled to support losing weight.
Now I do already have a gym membership and I am trying to diet but could really use some extra help. I am an emotional eater and reslly need regiment of a weigh in to help.
Aibu to be upset no support is available when there is a clesr clinical need.

OP posts:
Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 19:40

Apologies for typos. Stupid phone and fat fingers.

OP posts:
Pico2 · 28/09/2015 19:43

I think that the issue is more that medical exemptions are not entirely logical. But generally I think it does make sense not to subsidise Slimming World for all.

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 19:49

Tbf it does seem wrong that the NHS is paying money to outside organisations. Maybe they will offer me appointments with a HCA as I don't qualify for this scheme.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 28/09/2015 19:52

Um, but the support is there, it's just that you'll have to pay for it...the same as you'd pay for a prescription if they'd prescribed you drugs.

TheCuriousOwl · 28/09/2015 19:52

YABU for the following reason:

If you had a different condition that meant you got prescription exemptions and off the back of that you got Slimming World for free, it would be a bonus, but you aren't getting that freebie for clinical need, you're getting it as a nice perk of qualifying via another route.

If you got prescription exemption for financial reasons then you would be entitled to Slimming World for free due to clinical need because the justification is that you need it clinically but can't afford to contribute towards it so you should be given help.

None of my (lifelong) conditions qualify for free prescriptions but the NHS isn't a bottomless pit of money.

Also (and this is meant kindly)... you have made the first step by realising you're an emotional eater. A weigh in isn't going to change that. Addressing the emotional causes will do. Maybe Overeaters Anonymous or some counselling might actually benefit you more in the long term.

Good luck though. My best mate has lost 5 stone this year through eating better and exercising moderately.

RachelZoe · 28/09/2015 19:55

Also (and this is meant kindly)... you have made the first step by realising you're an emotional eater. A weigh in isn't going to change that. Addressing the emotional causes will do. Maybe Overeaters Anonymous or some counselling might actually benefit you more in the long term.

Totally agree with this. If you have emotional eating problems, counselling/OA will really help, adding deadlines with weigh ins and any sort of "shame motivator" ("I didn't lose enough", feeling judged by the weigher and so on and so forth) most likely will not.

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 19:59

That just it though. We really can't afford to pay fot it. Well we could if I cancelked my gym membership. I aldo know that I need the fovus of a weigh in to help me lode weight. It does work as I used yo do Rosemary Conleynin the past and it was successful. I also lose weight whrn I used to visit surgery for weigh in but stopped after several bereavements.
Thank you for replies.

OP posts:
Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 20:00

Focus of a weigh in.

OP posts:
Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 20:05

Tbf my weight hasn't gone up in years. Actually it decreased after the birth of my last dd. I think maybe I used the wrong term re emotional eating. I suppose I mean that if I have a day where the diet goes wrong I get defeatist and think why bother. If I know I have a weigh in in x days I am more likely to return to the diet.

OP posts:
JeffsanArsehole · 28/09/2015 20:09

Slimming world is a fiver a week, cheaper than your gym?

Sirzy · 28/09/2015 20:12

It is £4.95 a week, I think it's right it isn't funded other than for those who are eligible for free prescriptions and meet other criteria.

On a side note though my Sw consultant was talking about this once and how they had a period of lots of people joining for the free scheme (which is only a limited number of weeks anyway) and very few people saw out the duration of the free course of sessions and even fewer stayed long term or has a significant weight loss. Most were doing it because they were told to by a doctor rather than doing it for themselves because they are in a postion mentally to be ready to do it.

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 20:47

I know I would have to cancel the gym. I know there are free forms of exercise but I rely on the creche for my dd to give me time to exercise. Thst is the problem sirzy The doctor's are not yet telling me to do it. ( although I suspect the Consultant will) I want to do it so in theory should get better results than people pressganged into it by thrif GP.
12 weeks would hopefully be enough to get my BMI below 35 which I think is the criteria for surgery.
Never mind if the Gp can't help than maybe the hospital will. (Although I do hope to have still lost some before my clinic appointment. Just feel results would be better with more support)

OP posts:
Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 20:52

I suppose I just want to go back to the surgery run scheme which helped those who needed not just those deemed to be deprived.

OP posts:
jorahmormont · 28/09/2015 20:55

which helped those who needed not just those deemed to be deprived.

If they help those who can cut out other financial commitments, who's to say they'll have the money left over to help those who can't?

Should someone be losing out on their free prescriptions so you can have a free ticket to Slimming World?

Twinkie1 · 28/09/2015 20:58

I can't believe the audacity of your posts. The NHS is in its knees and you want them to pay for your slimming world membership rather than cancelling your gym membership to pay for it yourself!

tabulahrasa · 28/09/2015 20:59

You can pay in blocks of 12 weeks and you only pay for 10, so you're talking about £49.50 for 12 weeks.

m1nniedriver · 28/09/2015 21:04

I don't think the NHS should pay for anyone to go to slimming world whether they can afford it or not Shock Yes, prevention is better than cure but people need to take responsibility for their own health too!!! Unbelievable!

Lemith · 28/09/2015 21:14

You want slimming world on the NHS?! I'm agast that anyone gets this.

Loosing weight is both easy and hard at the same time. Easy just eat the right foods, hard as it takes a while to adjust to eating healthy.

I have a few conditions that I have no control over and do not get free prescription. But I know several family members with self inflicted conditions and they get everything for free.

Its a very broken system.

Birdsgottafly · 28/09/2015 21:24

It really doesn't make sense that the NHS pays for "stopping smoking", which brings in lots of revenue, but doesn't help obese people, to anywhere near the same extent (in answer to those that are bringing up spending costs).

OP, I agree with you about the disgraceful lack of help.

I've lost five stone, at the start I used appetite suppressants that I bought online, otherwise I wouldn't of been able to do it. I was lucky that I could afford gym membership after losing two stone and pay for a PT assessment.

My gym has scales and I use My Fitness Pal, but I also had a family holiday to keep me on track.

I think that a lot of obese people's issue, go into the realm of MH problems. If the obese person had chosen another addiction, smoking/drinking/drugs, there would be NHS and Charity provision.

I personally don't like what SW and WWs preach, but there should be better services, which in fairness, most Doctors are calling for, as well.

Birdsgottafly · 28/09/2015 21:28

The "gym in the park", is a good concept, but in reality, anyone fat is going to be persecuted whilst using it.

I've seen the abuse that female joggers get, it's either really nasty or sexual harassment, in my and surrounding areas.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 28/09/2015 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 28/09/2015 21:39

personally don't like what SW and WWs preach

I can only speak for SW but what they 'preach' is an everything in moderation lifestyle change. Not sure what is wrong with that, it is certainly a better message than the use of appetite suppressants!

Booyaka · 28/09/2015 21:47

It does suck. It's very hard to be just above the waterline to qualify for free stuff but you don't earn enough to pay for it yourself. It's the worst of both worlds.

AyeAmarok · 28/09/2015 21:48

I must say I'm finding your posts full of excuses. You can't cancel the gym because you need the creche. You think that you should get a funded SW place on the NHS, eh, why? You can afford it and you are the person in control of your eating.

If you buy and eat less food, you'll save the 5quid a week for slimming world.

It's all about priorities.

But you're putting obstacles in your own way, and you're not going to lose weight until you change your attitude and take responsibility for yourself.

softhedgehog · 28/09/2015 21:50

I suppose I just want to go back to the surgery run scheme which helped those who needed not just those deemed to be deprived.

I'm not meaning to be horrible - and it will probably come out wrong - but do you not read the papers? watch the news? have any idea what huge pressure GP surgeries are under, how our funding is being cut year on year in real terms while expenses and what we are expected to do rises and rises? I cannot think of a single person in my 10 years as a GP that has lost significant weight, and kept it off, with the aid of drugs or regular HCA weigh-in. I can think of quite a few that have done it on their own with willpower. I'm sorry, this stuff doesn't really work and as such there isn't the money for it.