"missing appointments & generally unhelpful!"

My last physical appointment was prior to lockdown starting. Since then, I’ve had problems with no-one manning the virtual clinic, or calling me on the day of my appointment (despite waiting for hours next to my phone!). I rang them, and was told I would be rung back, but never was, and then they had the gall to say I missed the appointments!

At the initial info session, we were told that we would get help and education for healthy eating, including psychology, to go on a milk diet which would effectively prepare us for tier 4 (surgery) among other things. I understand the pandemic has thrown everything off, but I was prepared to work hard, and hoped to be referred for surgery after a year, but I was left on my own, with no goals or help to control my weight.

At my last appointment I was told that they wouldn’t consider referring me to tier 4 for at least another year, because of my mental health issues (which are largely attributed to my weight). they don’t seem bothered about you if you’re physically fit but morbidly obese (having physical issues would have resulted in skipping tier 3 altogether).

I complained to PALS but nothing came of that either. For the “best” (but not hard to be the best when you’re one of the only...) bariatric centre in the east of England, I have felt extremely disappointed, have spent hours in tears, and gotten seriously angry to the point where I’ve had to return to my local mental health services (who had discharged me as the last thing to address was my weight and self esteem/body image, which, thanks to l&d bariatrics, is now worse than ever)