Treat obesity, not cancer, says consultant

Published on 06/08/2012 12:00

A GOVERNMENT advisor and leading surgeon has suggested NHS funds would be better spent on surgery for morbidly obese patients than on palliative care for the terminally ill.

Andrew de Beaux, a consultant at the ERI, questioned whether it was worth paying for expensive treatments which may have little benefit for cancer patients in their final weeks.

Around 27 per cent of 16-64 year-olds in Scotland are classed as obese, costing the health service more than £450 million each year. Many patients later develop conditions which are costly to treat.

Mr de Beaux said: “I do have reservations about the fact that in oesophageal and gastric cancer we spend £20,000 to £30,000 on palliative care per patient and that gives them around six to eight weeks of life.”