Waste of Public Money



Here's an story from the BBC which caused a small furore during the referendum as No campaigners seized on the news about Weight Watchers as evidence that the NHS is being privatised in Scotland.

Now not only is that a ridiculous claim, more worryingly it misses the point because the issue here is not privatisation, but the terrible waste of public money involved.   
Because the whole point about Weight Watchers is that people sacrifice one thing in order to gain another, so they pay a small fee to a slimming club and are set targets (along with others in the group) to control their food intake and lose weight, as the weeks and days go by.

Yet in this case the NHS is paying people's fees, without any indication that this is because people are unable to pay the small fee themselves. 

So is there really any point - where's incentive, the self-sacrifice?

If you ask me, it's like paying people hard cash to give up smoking even though by throwing their cigarettes in the bin they will save money hand over fist.

In other words, it's completely bonkers and a sign that if anything, the NHS has too much money in some areas, not too little. 

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde sends obese to Weight Watchers
By Eleanor Bradford
BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will refer severely obese patients to Weight Watchers

Scotland's largest health board has announced that people who are severely obese will be referred to a commercial weight-loss company.

The NHS will pay Weight Watchers' membership costs as part of a two-year pilot scheme.

Some working in weight-loss management within the NHS have criticised the move as an example of privatisation.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said the Weight Watchers model was "one which works".

A statement from the health board said: "Following a full tendering process we have awarded a contract to Weight Watchers to provide community-based weight management services as part of a two-year pilot project.

"People identify with Weight Watchers and evidence shows that their model is one which works. We will carry out a full evaluation of this work at the end of the pilot in two years."

The largest study so far of a commercial weight-loss programme found that one third of almost 30,000 people who were referred to Weight Watchers lost 5% or more of their bodyweight.

Weight loss of 5% or above is associated with health benefits.

However, Glasgow already has its own NHS weight-loss programme which has published successful results.

A third of those attending the NHS programme lost at least two stone (12.7kg) and kept it off for a year.

NHSGGC said the Weight Watchers programme was in addition to other "hospital-based" weight-management services.

Weight Watchers said that, in addition to NHSGGC, it was also currently working with NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside.


'Hospital-based service'

Zoe Griffiths, head of programme and public health for Weight Watchers UK, said: "Weight Watchers has been supporting local health bodies and providing successful weight management on referral services since 2005, and has worked with over 100 public health and NHS organisations across the UK.

"With the Scottish Health Survey reporting a significant increase in the proportion of adults who are obese (from 17.2% in 1995 to 26.1% in 2012), Weight Watchers recognises the importance of delivering services to help people to manage their weight and are committed to supporting and motivating people to change their lifestyles for good."

A Scottish government spokesman said: "NHS Scotland does not promote competition and makes very limited use of the private sector to provide targeted services.

"The most recent figures show that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spending in the private sector for services has fallen in recent years and stands 0.8% of their frontline budget, and is projected to fall further.

"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are working with Weight Watchers on a community-based pilot project, which will be in addition to their existing hospital-based weight management service, this is part of their efforts to support people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight."

Popular posts from this blog

SNP - Conspiracy of Silence

LGB Rights - Hijacked By Intolerant Zealots!