Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject: Give 'em up or you can't have your op.!
Health chiefs in Norfolk plan to save money by encouraging smokers to quit before undergoing routine operations.
Doctors say they are following a programme tried in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs, and health authority bosses hope that the move will improve general health and cut hospital costs.
They say research shows that smokers take more time to recover from surgery - and therefore have longer and more expensive stays in hospital - and are more likely to suffer complications.
The Norfolk Primary Care Trust, which is £50m in the red, says smokers earmarked for routine surgery will first be referred to a smoking cessation clinic and given a target time in which to break the habit.
They say anyone needing urgent surgery will not be affected.
"Norfolk is not the first place to try this," said a spokesman for the county's main hospital, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norwich. "It has been tried in Newcastle-under-Lyme, if not elsewhere. The idea is that efforts will be made to help smokers stop before they have routine surgery.
He said he understood that other health authorities were considering similar schemes
These so called "health Gestapo" people, should remember just how much tax smokers pay into Gordys coffers every week, where do they think all the health service money comes from ?
It doesn't help. The last thing you need to help you stop smoking is pressure like that.
It just makes you even more desperate for a cigarette. I know how bad smoking is for you but stress makes a smoker go for a cigarette. _________________ Marie
This is just the thin end of the wedge, the next thing will be a ban on ops for drinkers !!!
At the end of the day, the government just wants to ban ops altogether as they are the most expensive part of healthcare in hospitals, they will make it so difficult to actually get an operation that folk will be forced into private health schemes or else, end up selling their house etc. to fund operations abroad !!!
Think Blood Tests can show up most things. It is very cruel if they do that. I know many people who have Mental Health problems,they all seem to smoke and also take very strong Medications to relieve the illness. These medications have terrible side-effects, sometimes the tobacco helps to relax the symptoms, don't ask me why, even the Dr's cannot answer that. _________________ I just want harmony. If you cannot say anything nice, keep your gob shut!
Thank you for mentioning about Mental Illness, Dee. At my nearest Psychiatric Unit, those who think they know whats best for us, have banned smoking from both inside and outside the hospital. There has been letters in my local paper on this emotive subject. I do know that when I had my breakdown and later a recurring bout of severe depression, my roll-ups were one of the few things that kept me going and helped me through it. If you are very depressed, you can't concentrate to read a book, or watch t.v.. Listening to music also doesn't really help you. But a good trusty shot of tobacco does help, and now I can't help wondering how those poor souls are coping. I suppose they just pump them full of sedatives and tranqs to keep them quiet!
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