The number of bariatric surgeries carried out at St Vincent’s Hospital in the first half of this year exceeded the number carried out last year at St Columcille’s Hospital. Typically, St Columcille’s carried out 20 cases per year. St Vincent’s said that the hospital has provided in excess of this number so far this year.
Bariatric surgery was originally provided by St Columcille’s and, as part of the reconfiguration of hospital services, was transferred to St Vincent’s last year. Funding was agreed to ensure the continuity of service provision as part of the transfer of services.
The HSE has come under heavy criticism for suspending surgery for dangerously obese public patients. This year, there was funding for just 20 procedures at St Vincent’s. However, approximately 180 patients are on the St Vincent’s surgical waiting list, some for up to four years.
Bariatric surgery is only required for a small minority of obese patients (2 per cent of the population). The vast majority of these patients require clinical treatment that is both hospital and community based — as indicated by the HSE-ICGP Weight Management Treatment Algorithm, the clinical care pathway used by healthcare professionals.
The HSE has indicated that it will continue to support the further development of this service in 2015 and beyond within the overall context of the service planning process, the Executive said in response to Dáil questioning by Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
The Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) is seeking to address the problem of overweight and obesity in Ireland. Progress has been made on the healthy eating guidelines, calories on menus initiative and the report on recommendations to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the top shelf of the food pyramid. The safefood/HI/HSE three year Childhood Obesity Campaign has also been introduced.