Helping People Lose Weight Via Traditional & Surgery Alternatives
News Release
RELEASE: (June 1, 2010)
British Columbians Plead With Govt To Restore Surgery Funding
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada – June 1 2010 – Human compassion has given way to indifference and apathy by the BC Liberal Government. Despite these seemingly insurmountable obstacles by the government, BC’s morbidly obese patients, their families and friends have rallied by signing a petition pleading for re-establishment of funding for life-saving surgery.
Recent funding cuts by the Vancouver Island Regional Health Authority (VIHA) slashed 2010 gastric bypass surgery funding by 65%. Average wait times have now ballooned to more than 4 years.
Ron Merk, Weight Loss & Surgery Support, said; “It’s pretty darn obvious that no one cares either in the government or the Vancouver Island Regional Health Authority. For me the petition was a chance to put real stories to the faces of real people suffering because of the funding cuts. You can’t help feeling their hurt and frustration when you read the comments in the petition. It really opens your heart to the human pain, suffering and agony of the patients and their families.”
Here are some “real life” comments from the actual petition:
“Please don’t punish us for a disorder of health.”, “It frightens me very badly when I think of how my next 10 or so years will go.”, “No one undertakes this risky surgery on a whim. It is a desperate last attempt.”, “Your political decisions are killing good people for no reason!”, “I would not be alive today were it not for Weight Loss Surgery. Now I am a contributing member of society.”
All of these comments and many more can be found by going to the petition: http://www.blazeonline.com/wls/petition/
To make up an overall 2% budget short fall in 2010, VIHA made the deepest funding cuts to bypass bariatric surgery, resulting in a reduction of more than half of the surgeries performed in 2009. As VIHA is the only regional health authority in BC that does bypass bariatric surgery, this short sighted budget reduction perilously impacts British Columbians all across the province.
Most morbidly obese patients are already so marginalized by the perception of society towards obesity, that many just hang their heads, don’t speak out and just wait to die. Sadly, most of them will go through years of agony. Additionally their obesity-related diseases will worsen and contribute 10 times more in health care costs than the bypass bariatric surgery would cost the provincial health budget.
While wait times currently now exceed four years, that will be increased exponentially as new people are identified who need the surgery.
451 words
Contact:
Ron Merk
Weight Loss & Surgery Support
http://www.blazeonline.com/wls/
Ron Merk
1249 Lyall St, Victoria BC V9A5G8
Canada
Ph: 250-995-2795
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7 Comments
Articles flood the news about increasing problems of obesity yet the government slashes funding for life-saving surgery.
Seeing obesity as an illness is a necessity. Instead, it’s the old tale of self control tossed in our faces. Education about the disease and the fact that surgery doesn’t cure, it merely gives the patient a tool to battle back, without which, increasing medical costs are almost inevitable. Yes, it’s a crutch but would the government deny a one-legged man a crutch?
Instead, “diet and exercise” experts are making tons of money purporting to have the answers and the government loves it as it costs them nothing! Until the public understands the depth of the problem, the government will appear justified slashing surgery costs.
We need a blitz of educational articles in the press to create an understanding of the problem. Appealing directly to government without pressure from the public is not likely to result in more funding, just more frustration.
Thanks for letting me let off some steam!
Marilyn Riopel
Feeling like at 49 years of age, I would probably not live until retirement. I had to take my inheritance early and go to the states to self pay for the surgery. All told, it cost me $32,000 USD. Revenue Canada fought me to reimburse me on my taxes. I got a grand total of $6,000 back. While I don’t regret spending the money for the extra life I have been given. I was diabetic and am now off all meds. I would presume that is a HUGE cost savings to our health care system alone. Never mind that I threw away my cane and will now probably be working and paying taxes a lot longer had I not have had the surgery and died. I would have much preferred to have it at home, being out of the country was an added stress and quite scary, I had no choice if I wanted to live. My government and health care was not going to help me. I have never been a huge eater…NEVER..I was not put in this position because of a “lack of control”, this is a disease like any other, but it is a prejudicial disease.
I have been waiting for 3+ years. Last year I thought i was getting close now I am lucky if I will get the surgery in the next 3 years. I might be dead by that time.
Our government has forgotten that leaving people in this situation only increases the cost on the healthcare system in both the short and long term.
I went to the USA to have the surgery as I choose to live versus die a slow death. Within 3 months of surgery my physical health had improved 10 times, my bloodwork was all “in the normal ranges”, I had stopped taking one medication and was completely off Insulin. Which was running me a cost of almost $1500/month. If as a result my health has improved and I become more active and continue to contribute to society, how is this a bad thing? Tell me politicians, if you were in my shoes, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT AND EXPECT from your ELECTED OFFICIALS? Try looking through anothers eyes and see what solutions you may come up with. You might just save someones life.
LF
I have been waiting 4+ yrs for this surgery and it looks like it will be another year at least. I have fought with my weight all my life (43 yrs) and I am very active, work full time and still I weigh 270lbs. Because I don’t have diabetes “yet” and I am lucky to have some shape I am called a light weight but my knees and feet don’t feel that way. I am getting worse even though I walk regularly and have changed my diet and I stay the same, not a pound different. This is most definitely the hardest thing I deal with everyday and people should not be punished for it. I only want to know that I will be healthy and diabetes free for my grandchildren, not a burden on our medical system and my kids. Please look at the long term benefits not the short term fix.
LL
I am going to be 60 this year, and I wonder if I will still be around to celebrate it. I was referred in September of 2006, but I am sure there people out there who have waited longer.
In the past year, I have been diagnosed with diabetes. My blood pressure has taken a turn for the worse. My cholesterol levels have joined my triglycerides to become problematic. My hypothyroidism is getting worse. I can feel the strain on my body. I find it hard to lose weight and it’s not because I’m not trying. Body metabolism has a tendency to slow down when a person is morbidly obese. I’m hopeful that I may get my surgery next year, but there are still lots of doubts swirling around here. I want to grow older and be here to see my grandchildren. I have things to do,places to go as do we all. Help us have a decent quality of life by restoring funding for this surgery!!
February 2007, I was referred to Dr. Amson. I could not see him until early fall 2009, I was then told that it would be at least a couple more years until my surgery. I am not sure I can wait that long.
Im 54 yrs of age and morbidly obese. I have broken both my ankles from the weight and had a knee replaced 14 years ago. I can no longer walk up stairs; or walk any distance as the weight of my stomach on my upper legs causes me to loose the feeling in my legs.
I don’t blame Dr. Amson for the wait; he is wonderful but only one man. I do blame our health care system. I current;y am on over 30 pills a day. That is a lot of money for the Pharmaceutical companies. I strongely feel that the government is in bed with these companies, or they would help us. I don’t have the option of going to another country for the surgery. We just do not have that kind of money.
but you can bet that if it was a politician that needed the urgery, the government would find the funds for them to have it. Lets help those of us here at home that need it in the way of our medical system before we start to give millions to sporting events, or politician pensions.