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ACS patient claims she did not get follow-up care

A total of 12 to 14 people who have been subject to gastric banding procedures in Leeds, Belgium, London and at Dublin’s Advanced Cosmetic Surgery (ACS, which is now in liquidation) now have to get treatment at Dublin’s Weight Management Clinic in St Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, as there is not enough access to such surgery or appropriate follow-up care in Ireland.

Jaimie Harte from Gorey, Co. Wexford (22) had a gastric band inserted by ACS on 13 April 2007. She weighed 19 stone eight pounds but has lost seven stone since the band was put in place. She is now 13 weeks’ pregnant.

“I paid ACS €10,000 to have an operation in Ireland so that I’d have the comfort of going to Dublin for follow-up care.” The Hospital Group, which has taken over the business of ACS, gave Ms Harte an appointment for 27 June at its Belfast office. She could not attend, as she was a bridesmaid at a wedding that day. “They informed me of the appointment a week beforehand, after I rang them constantly,” Ms Harte said. “Even when ACS was still in business, we didn’t get follow-up care. I was meant to see a dietitian but was never even given a telephone number.”

Ms Harte went to her own GP, who referred her to Loughlinstown. She went to A&E there and is now awaiting an appointment with a surgeon.

Posted in Private Healthcare on 31 July 2008
Tags: cosmetic surgery, obesity