PERFORMANCE: South Tees Hospitals FT has announced it is extending a specialist service that has helped obese people lose weight when all other options have failed.
The multi-disciplinary service, provided by the trust’s community services division, will now be on offer to patients in Stockton, having been successful in Middlesbrough, and Redcar and Cleveland.
It takes referrals from GPs, consultants and other professionals, working with those aged 16 and over with weight and associated health problems such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
The service focuses on working with those who have tried to lose weight in other ways without success.
Fiona Taylor, specialist obesity dietician and team lead, said the aim was to prevent further weight gain, promote weight loss and help people develop the skills to manage their weight long-term.
She said feedback from existing services showed the approach worked.
“Patients feel supported by a group of specialist healthcare professionals in the one place, which has given them the knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to manage their weight in a way that has not happened before,” she said.
Source date
18 September 2011
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