By Pamela McGowan Health reporter

Last updated at 10:51, Saturday, 07 November 2009

More than 150 special requests were made to health bosses in Cumbria for cosmetic surgery last year.

A further 78 wanted the NHS to fund extreme weight-loss surgery to tackle obesity.

On top of this, 21 people in the county requested controversial cancer drugs during the 2008/09 financial year. But in most cases, the county’s exceptional cases panel did not feel it appropriate to hand over taxpayers’ money to fund the treatment.

Only three of the cancer drug requests were successful and just 13 of those for bariatic surgery – for either gastric bands or bypasses were approved.

Rebecca Wagstaff, NHS Cumbria’s deputy director of public health, said some decisions are very difficult, but they do not have the budget to fund everything.

The exceptional cases panel deals with requests for procedures that are not readily available on the NHS.

Dr Wagstaff said the majority they receive – 157 out of a total of 343 last year – are for cosmetic surgery.

Of these, only 42 of the applications were successful.

“These requests are predominantly people wanting breast reduction or breast enlargement, but those very rarely get through the committee.

“Those that do are usually women who have one breast that for whatever reason has not developed, so there is a big difference between the two.”

However she stressed that these figures do not include women who need reconstructive surgery after cancer treatment, as this is automatically funded by the NHS.

Aside from breast procedures, people also asked for surgery to remove loose skin after weight-loss, to have their ears pinned back, treatment for excessive hair growth and types of laser surgery.

She stressed that anyone who is in an accident or suffers horrible facial injuries, for example, would not have to worry as they would get the treatment on the NHS.

Of the 78 wanting bariatic surgery – to help weight-loss – 52 were not successful.

Dr Wagstaff said this is because this type of surgery – where either a band is fitted to reduce stomach capacity or it is bypassed so that large amounts of food cannot be absorbed by the body – is risky and not to be entered into lightly.

Those who do undertake it have change their entire lifestyle for it to be successful, so it is not a quick fix.

She said they have a strict policy and only accept those who have tried everything else to lose weight, have a particularly high body mass index and are prepared to make the commitment.

“Half of our adult population is overweight and we are getting fatter and fatter, so this is a real issue for Cumbria and society as a whole,” she said.

“But operating on severely overweight people poses its own risks and it’s a fairly new procedure, so we don’t really know the long-term effects.

“Wherever possible we would want people to lose weight through diet and exercise. Surgery is certainly not a miracle solution.”

In terms of the cancer drugs, she said they stick firmly to national guidance in order to avoid a postcode lottery.

“We are dealing with drugs that are very expensive and may only increase life by two or three months,” said Dr Wagstaff. “It’s even more difficult for us here because we are so close to Scotland, where they often have different policies.

“In an ideal world we would fund everything but the NHS has limited funds, particularly now when we are in recession and need to spend money wisely, on caring for our older people and children,” she said.

Other requests that went to the panel last year included three for gender reassignment, which were all successful; four to reverse sterilisation, only one of which was accepted; and three for exceptional infertility treatment, only one of which was successful.

First published at 09:10, Saturday, 07 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk