Hi Everyone

I had my band fitted in Birmingham on the 7th Feb 07

I have been receiving my aftercare at Manchester and have found that there has been no group support as they promised prior to the surgery.

I have seen the dietician twice and really found her little help.

I have not had a fill as yet and feel that I have no restriction. I have been on a conference today and have eaten as I did previously without exception. I am really struggling to revert to my old eating habits and feel thta all the great work that I have achieved in the past coulpe of months as the scales are slowly going back up.

Has anyone else had the same experience with the Hospital Group or is it just me that feels like they have had my money and now they are not interested?

Thinking that I may go on the Cambridge diet as a form of damage limitation prior to me getting my fill.

flipping heck Cookies!!

Just go and find another provider, there are loads in London;

Toni Russo

Dr Marc focquet

Dr Somers

to name but a few... Dr Focquet only charges £70 too!

Shop around, it's your body and you are in control!

I know I am in control but I would rather go to the same person who has done my last few fills and they know what my body can take and where my port is placed. I will look into how much these others charge.

I guess it comes down to what's more important to you...

Getting your fill when you need it

OR

Having the same person do your fill every time...

All of the people mentioned are specialist band fillers, you might remember DR Somers he did the fat doctor programme on Discovery Health... he also does some work for the Hospital Group, as well as seeing patients independently....

Again your choice entirely, I just wanted to give you some other options!

Hx

Thanks Anon for this. Dr Somers acutally did my operation so I will find out how much he charges.

Hi guys

mr shaw somers is my sergen too and he no longer works for the HG.

THIS IS HIS CONTACT

i hope it helps.:help: he is a real gent.

Shaun :clap2::clap2::clap2:

info@shawsomers.com

Main Contact

Bariatric UnitSt Richards HospitalChichesterPO19 6SEUnited Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1243 831655

Other Contacts

The London Clinic, Devonshire Place, London W1G 6BW

Suite 1, Queen Anne Street, London, W1G 9LG

Secretary: 0207 636 9804

BMI Clementine Churchill Hospital, Sudbury Hill, Harrow, HA1 3RX

Secretary: 0207 636 9804

Also at:

Clare Park Hospital, Crondall Lane, Farnham, GU10 5XX

Sarum Road Hospital, Sarum Road, Winchester, SO22 5HA

cool bananas.

I hope that you get your fill!

Hx

I guess it comes down to what's more important to you...

Getting your fill when you need it

OR

Having the same person do your fill every time...

All of the people mentioned are specialist band fillers, you might remember DR Somers he did the fat doctor programme on Discovery Health... he also does some work for the Hospital Group, as well as seeing patients independently....

Again your choice entirely, I just wanted to give you some other options!

Hx

I can see the point you are making but when you have paid top money for a top service why should we need to go and find another provider.

Paying to go with the Hospital Group was supposed to eliminate the need to shop around after the surgery. I feel completely let down by the service that I have received from the Hospital Group.

I have since found out that they are a small family firm that is run on a shoe string. They just have good marketing!!!!!

All I say to anyone thinking of having surgery with them is think twice...

Well after 8 weeks I have received a response from the Hospital Group with my complaint! They had no answers to my complaints and said that they have decided to stop support groups and advisors as they found clients did not find them beneficial!!!!!

Are they for real! That is what I paid the extra for.

Its a good job that I found this site or I would have gone completely mad!

HELLO, I AM FROM TENNESSEE WITH OUR LAP BANDS THE EATING PROCESS HERE IS LOW CARBS AND 60-80 GRAMS OF Protein DAILY FIRST THEN LOW CARB VEGGIES THEN IF YOU CAN SOME FRUIT OR sugar free pudding THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU BUY PROTEIN MIX AND I MIX PART Water TO SAVE ON SUGAR AND CALORIES AND SKIM MILK IT WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS. I USE SOY SUGAR FREE MILK WHICH HAS 1 GRAM OF SUGAR TO MIX MINE WITH. IF YOU CAN MANAGE TO GET AT LEAST 3 FILLS YOU WILL BE RESTRICTED FAIRLY WELL FOR A GOOD WHILE YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU NEED ANOTHER ONE. BUT MAINLY LOW CARB YOU EAT YOUR PROTEIN FIRSTWHICH WILL BE chicken, TENDER STEAK, GROUND BEEF, meat FOR THE PROTEIN AND THE SIZE SHOULD BE LIKE THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, ALSO THEY TELL US DON'T DRINK 30 MIN'S BEFORE YOU EAT AND DON'T DRINK ANYTHING FOR 1 HOUR AFTER YOU EAT IT WILL WASH THE food OUT OF YOUR POUCH AND YOU WILL BE HUNGRY TO SOON AGAIN. EAT 3 MEALS A DAY. OF COURSE EXERCISE. EAT FIBEROUS FOODS. I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK AS I GO. CHEW YOUR FOOD VERY VERY GOOD. EAT SLOW. NO COKES EVER AGAIN THEY HAVE CARBINATION. ONLY 100% WHOLE WHEAT BREAD AND NOT MUCH OF THAT. NO POTATOES, CORN, Pasta STUFF LIKE THAT THAT HAS LOTS OF CARBS OR STARCHY FOODS. YOU NEED GREEN LEAFY VEGGIES SOME YOUGERT, CABBAGE IS GREAT, cheese YOU CAN HAVE. DRINK LOT'S OF WATER TRY TO DRINK 6-8 GLASSES DAILY MORE IF YOU CAN. DRINK CAFFINE FREE coffee WITH NON DAIRY CREAMER AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETNER. IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS I WILL BE GLAD TO TRY AND HELP YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT REDRUNNER61@AOL.COM I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HELPS BUT I HOPE SO IF I CAN BE OF ANY MORE HELP JUST ASK. SHARON

:clap2:

ANOTHER SITE TO HELP WITH THE LAP BAND IS. WWW.OBESITYHELP.COM AND ONE MORE IS WWW.BAND2GETHER.NET TRY THOSE.

Hi Shand,

Your posts are really useful, but I think the OP was complaining about the lack of service from the Hospital group.... esp. as she paid more than double the fees I did.

the reasons for this are complex and multitude, IMHO, THG are in fact victims of their own success.

They didn't think through the amount of aftercare and support bandsters need post op and as a consequence they don't have enough appointments for fills etc... particularly in the London area.

the post op diet restrictions are roughly the same as those in the USA, with the exception of the Protein intake... we are not told that we need that much.

Hi UK Angel,

If she has to pay for the fill anyway, I really can't see the problem with approaching her original surgeon and paying him instead.

OK, I acknowledge that it would have been nicer to have a good service and it's not the first or even the tenth complaint I've heard about them tbh.

I'm the sort of person who seeks to solve problems by my very nature, I'm not one to join in with complaint. I don't think that it's productive to spend time doing so.

My posts reflect that, and offer solutions, rather than sympathy... I know that sometimes, people just want somebody to listen to them.... I genuinely believe that the OP was looking for a solution to the problem.

Hi Shand,

Your posts are really useful, but I think the OP was complaining about the lack of service from the Hospital group.... esp. as she paid more than double the fees I did.

the reasons for this are complex and multitude, IMHO, THG are in fact victims of their own success.

They didn't think through the amount of aftercare and support bandsters need post op and as a consequence they don't have enough appointments for fills etc... particularly in the London area.

the post op diet restrictions are roughly the same as those in the USA, with the exception of the Protein intake... we are not told that we need that much.

Hi UK Angel,

If she has to pay for the fill anyway, I really can't see the problem with approaching her original surgeon and paying him instead.

OK, I acknowledge that it would have been nicer to have a good service and it's not the first or even the tenth complaint I've heard about them tbh.

I'm the sort of person who seeks to solve problems by my very nature, I'm not one to join in with complaint. I don't think that it's productive to spend time doing so.

My posts reflect that, and offer solutions, rather than sympathy... I know that sometimes, people just want somebody to listen to them.... I genuinely believe that the OP was looking for a solution to the problem.

I GUESS I'M LUCKY ALL MY FILLS COME WITH THE SURGERY PLUS MY INSURANCE PAID 100% I HAVEN'T HAD TO PAY ANYTHING. I HAVE HAD 3 FILLS AND I WILL BE GETTING MY 4TH ONE IN DEC AND I'M HOPING THAT ONE WILL GET ME TO MY SWEET SPOT. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR OCT 16TH AND SHE TOLD ME I NEEDED TO EAT MORE I HAVEN'T EVER BEEN TOLD THAT I DON'T THINK.... LOL. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE. GIVE THEM HECK.. SHARON :angry

ANOTHER SITE TO HELP WITH THE LAP BAND IS. WWW.OBESITYHELP.COM AND ONE MORE IS WWW.BAND2GETHER.NET TRY THOSE.

DID ANYONE TRY THESE SITES? THEY ARE VERY HELPFULL TO. SHARON

Just a quick update on the service that I am receiving form the Hospital Group.

I went on Wednesday to Manchester for my dietician appointment and a fill. This is the first appointment I have had since July! When we arrived at Manchester we were informed that the dietician had left the company and there will no longer be one based in Manchester. So now there is no dietician. no support group and no fitness advisor!

Luckily the nurse was there for the fill so our hour journey had not been in vain!

I am so frustrated with the service i am receiving.

Though aside from this I have joined slimming world and I am using slim fast and I am actually shedding my weight. The band is a tool that I am having to learn how to use with only the advice off this wedsite!

I am so glad I found this website.

I can feel another complaint letter coming on to the Hospital Group.

Update on the fill

I had the fill on Wed of last week and after 24 hours stayed on liquids. Then 24 hours mushies. then normal light diet. Unfortunately still a week later I have been able to keep anything down! I am struggling to get liquids down as I can only sip. i have been vomiting continually.

I phoned the Hospital Group on Monday and asked to have some Fluid taken out and they said it would class as a fill as I had waited over 48hours to contact them.

They also said that they could not offer me an appointment until a week on Wed! I explained I have only been managing to get 300ml of fluid in a day! They said that was a good sign as at least I could get something down and that I should be fine!!!!!!!!

It was after that telephone conversation that I have now decided to take my services elsewhere and we are going to pursue a full refund from the Hospital Group because the sevice has been so bad!

On a positive note I have lost 5lbs this week with having such a tight restriction!!! (Always a siver cloud!)

Im soo sorry to hear about how bad they've been treating you, good luck with the refund

But on another note id like to thank-you for putting this imformation up you really have opened my eyes to the hospital group, a lady rang me back to see weather i was ready to book my consoltation and i told them no because ive heard such bad things about the after care on the internet and alot of people have told me how bad they are so i had decided to go with another company- she seemed quite taken back!

Thank you and good luck

xXx