Wallsend PCN Statement on Post-Bariatric Surgery Monitoring

We are aware that increasingly, patients are deciding to go private or abroad when looking at weight loss surgery. It is important that you are able to make an informed decision when making these choices.

You must be 100% satisfied that the provider you choose is safe and reputable. We are unable to recommend specific private services, but if you do decide to go private it is vital that you ensure the provider is fully regulated and registered with appropriate bodies. This is crucial if you are thinking about going abroad – locally (and nationally) we have seen an increase in post-surgical complications, especially when returning from abroad. The British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS) have released a statement on going abroad for weight loss surgery, which can be accessed here: https://bomss.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BOMSS-Statement-on-Bariatric-Tourism-Jan-2023-v2.pdf.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), who provide national guidance to the NHS, and BOMSS advise that it is essential that patients get specialist aftercare for at least 2 years following their surgery. Weight loss surgery is a specialist area and it is important that patients get specialist input from a wide range of professionals from a variety of departments. This includes performing and interpreting blood monitoring. Therefore, Wallsend Primary Care Network (Hadrian Health Centre, The Village Green Surgery, and Bewicke Medical Centre) will be unable to perform any monitoring for at least the first 2 years after your procedure.

Any follow up should be with the surgeon who performed the procedure, or their team. If you do decide to go private, either in this country or abroad, the NHS is unable to follow up private bariatric surgery.  Please ensure you discuss this with your surgeon before the procedure. If you are going abroad, some UK based private clinics provide an aftercare package – it is important that you sort this out before going for surgery.

Wallsend Primary Care Network (Hadrian Health Centre, The Village Green Surgery, and Bewicke Medical Centre)