How is the Welsh Government ensuring the availability of bariatric beds for patients in north Wales?
: Health boards are responsible for ensuring that all patients can be accommodated in appropriate care settings for whatever treatment they need and using specialist equipment where necessary.
In terms of bariatric services specifically, the All-Wales Weight Management Pathway published in 2021 establishes the core components of adult weight management services, including the support available for people who may benefit from surgical intervention. Obesity surgery is commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) for the whole of Wales. WHSSC ensures that there is sufficient capacity, and that the population of Wales has fair and equitable access to obesity surgery services.
North Wales patients are referred predominantly to Salford Royal Hospital (part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust) for surgical intervention, according to the access criteria stipulated in WHSSC’s recently updated ‘Obesity Surgery for Complex and Severe Obesity - Level 4 (Adults)’ service specification. WHSSC works with Salford Royal to monitor activity levels and waiting lists, and to develop mitigations in the event of inequitable access.