Life-saving ops on hold thanks to HSE decision

Potentially lifesaving gastric bypass operations are on hold because of a HSE decision to limit the number of procedures it funds.

Endocrinologist at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dr Donal O’Shea, said the move by the HSE some weeks ago was wrong and that it came in the face of growing evidence of an obesity crisis across the country.

Yesterday, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, led by Trinity College Dublin, showed that 80% of people aged 50 and over are either overweight or obese.