The public needs to lose weight to help tackle growing NHS waiting lists, the Welsh health minister has said.
Eluned Morgan, the cabinet secretary for health and social services in Wales’ Labour-run devolved Government, has warned the health system could become “unsustainable” if people do not lead healthier lives and reduce the burden on the NHS.
Ms Morgan particularly highlighted the impact that obesity and diabetes can have on the service.
It comes as the latest NHS statistics for Wales show the number of individual patients waiting for treatment hit 591,600 in February, the highest on record and an increase of 5,100 from December.
However, Ms Morgan has insisted that some areas of the waiting lists are beginning to improve.
Lay off the twinkies people
But they’re so twinky
I wish we had these in Wales, I tried one once when I was in Florida, it was great.
I guess if you make the “have you tried losing weight” bullshit as a press release instead, then you cut out that GP visit for everyone and they can dive right into actual diagnosis.
I mean, I don’t disagree that people need to start taking more responsibility for their health and stop seeing the NHS as being there to basically cover for their poor life choices.
However, we also need to ensure a societal system to enable people to live healthier lives via higher quality, cheaper, healthier food for all, access to green areas and sports facilities for all and greater education around the need for exercise, healthier cooking etc.
Just doing the former and not the latter is a cheap option that shifts the blame onto the public if they can’t achieve a healthier lifestyle dispite wanting to. As usual it’s performative politics, not an actual solution.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s disappointing the lack of interaction with members of the public on this. We’re subsidising many industries that directly produce fattening and high sugar products, that should be looked at.