How can NHS cut obesity when it has fat staff, asks TV presenter Nick Ross
all know if you go to any NHS clinic or hospital, the staff there will be pretty representative of the population as a whole. We have a large number of staff who smoke in the NHS. There are clinically obese staff in the NHS. If we can’t solve that within the NHS, I think we are pie in the sky about thinking we can solve it in society as a whole.”
Last year, a survey found a quarter of nurses were obese — having a body mass index of 30 or above.
NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens claimed the health service was “leading the way in battling the growing obesity epidemic across the country”.
Mr Ross, who holds honorary posts with the Royal Society of Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, and the charity HealthWatch, was believed to be speaking in a personal capacity. He described the state of the NHS as a “perfect storm” in which hospitals competed for patients and cash, while being forced by regulators to follow a “tick-box mentality”.
He said Imperial, which needs roughly £1 billion to restore crumbling hospitals such as St Mary’s, Hammersmith and Charing Cross, faced constant battles with local councils.
“We have three boroughs of different political complexities,” he added. “None is prepared to see infrastructure move from one borough to another. Politicians are much more concerned about the hospital closure than the long-term mortality and morbidity of their people. At Imperial we have the worst physical estate in Britain … But if we start giving up [healthcare services] to others, our income will go down.”
His comments came as London health chiefs debated the future structure of the NHS. The Mayor’s health adviser, Dr Tom Coffey, wants a new strategic health authority for the capital.
⬤ Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said patients should wear “diet tracking apps” after operations. In a report setting out his vision of a high-tech NHS, he said those with long-term conditions should have access to online apps to meet their needs.