Breast Reduction on the NHS? Maybe -if you fight
By Jane Elliott
BBC News, health reporter
Lou Hunneybel hated her 38G breasts – they were too big and caused her daily agony.
Her shoulders and back ached from the excessive weight and she had an uncomfortable fungal rash underneath caused by excessive sweating.
Her GP told her she needed to lose at least a stone and a half (9.5kg) in weight before she would be considered for surgery.
She lost two stones (12.7 kg), but no weight went from her breasts leaving her a dress size 14 (European 40, US 12) on the bottom and size 22 (European 48, US 20) on the top.
Her GP then referred her for surgery, but without seeing her, the local primary care trust (PCT) immediately refused treatment.
“I was just so upset. My GP had referred me and said that I had problems, but they just sent me a letter saying that it was cosmetic surgery so I could not even have a consultation on the NHS.
“But it was not just cosmetic, I was in real discomfort. It was so uncomfortable.
“I had a huge thrush rash underneath them, which was very sore.
“My husband, Andrew, was so cross when they refused me that he took pictures of my breasts and the rash and posted them to the PCT.
“We knew I needed the operation and I needed them to see my problems.
“He blew the pictures up to A4 size and sent them in the post.”
Within weeks of sending the photos, 36-year-old Lou, from Essex, was given a consultation date and just months later she had her NHS surgery.
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6688353.stm
March 7th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
i went to see my gp 8 years ago,although findind out recently when i changed gp’s he never referred me ,so she did it and i saw a consultant in feb this year to be told i was an ideal candidate ,should be done by the summer .fingers crossed
June 17th, 2008 at 9:43 am
i have a 42f bust, i have been waiting 3 years to see a specilist. my doctor recived a letter about 3 month ago telling me i had to loose 3 stone,he was so angry as he said he could have had me loosing weight right from the start. which i have lost 1stone and 6 pounds. i have arthritas so i find it hard to exersise.so it will take me longer to loose my weight. my doctor has given me tablets to help me . my doctor said i had to go and see a physiotherepist which we laught about as we said what can she do apart from show me how to sit right. i get the rash alot and it peals the skin off. it hurts alot. you cannot let anybody touch it becase it is so sore my back aches because they are so heavy. i lean forward which i know is bad but that is the way i get a bit of comfort. i turn away from my husband when i get undressed as i dont like him to look at them as they are ugly. thankyou for letting me talk to you. i hope when i loose my weight i can have mine done. good luck lou from essex.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Im a 24 year old female with 34GG breats that are so uncomfortable I cannot sleep at night, I have constant back and neckache. I cannot find clothes to fit me. I have been fighting to get my doctors to refer me since I was 14 – first I was too young then I was over weight. My BMI is 27, im 5’5 and weigh 12’4. They say they cant refer me until my BMI is under 25 but they dont take into account that I have fibrocystics disease in my breasts making them twice as heavy! no matter how much I lose I feel i’ll never get anywhere as my GP just knocks me back every time. im so depressed about them and at a loss of where to turn next
September 9th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
i am the same size, with very simular syptoms! i have been refused several times, and im only 9 stone, as u can image.. it is causing so much trouble!!