The suregry has recently been recieving lots of requests from patients who have travelled overseas for healthcare and upon their return to the UK, want aftercare treatment to be provided by the NHS. This is particualrly true for bariatric surgery, although other types of healthcare are prevelant too.
Aftercare for patients who have self-funded bariatric surgery is not routinely commissioned by Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB within the NHS locally and is not available from Library House Surgery.
Post-operative support, requires specialist input that may be available from the provider that undertook the surgery or via an alternative self-funded route. Specialist NHS services provide this aftercare for patients who have undergone their bariatric surgery within the NHS.
If you had your bariatric surgery abroad:
Government advice, NHS advice and some patient support groups’ advice on accessing treatment abroad, all advise that patients must be clear about how aftercare will be coordinated and provided after their surgery, and that patients may be responsible for costs of the aftercare and of possible return trips associated with aftercare. Patients who have paid for bariatric surgery abroad have a responsibility to review and plan for all points in the recommended Treatment Abroad checklist (https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/going-abroad-for-treatment/treatment-abroad-checklist/) and can choose to buy a standalone package of post-operative care through a UK independent sector provider, or other non-UK provider.
It is important to understand how medical treatment abroad works and what risks are involved. If you do not follow correct procedures, you may have to pay the full costs of your treatment. You can find more information online here: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/going-abroad-for-treatment/going-abroad-for-medical-treatment/
Please be reassured that NHS emergency services are available should any emergency treatment be required as a result of any issues arising from bariatric surgery or other healthcare sought from overseas.