SMOKERS and overweight people could be made to wait longer for routine operations under NHS cost-cutting plans.

Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is considering a scheme to get patients "fit for surgery" with the long-term aim of saving money.

This is because it costs the CCG more money to treat patients who have or develop complications. The move, if agreed, would affect operations for non-essential surgery, such as knee, hernia and hip.

CCG leaders say the proposal is "still being worked up" and would not have an impact on savings in the current financial year.

They say measures are in place to find the extra £3.9M in savings required before April next year.

Bury CCG chairman Dr Kiran Patel said: “It is likely that, in the future, for patients being considered for non-urgent surgery who would benefit from stopping smoking or reaching a healthier weight, referral for surgery will be deferred for a number of weeks to enable the patient to attend a smoking cessation or weight management course as appropriate to help them become as fit as possible for surgery.”

Dr Patel said the details of the initiative, called the Lifestyle Change Scheme, were still to be finalised by clinicians and public health authorities.

Under the scheme, a non-smoker would join the surgery waiting list straight away, while an habitual smoker would have to wait to do so while a course takes place – the length of which will depend on the state of their health.

Dr Patel added: “At the end of the course, whether or not the course was attended or successful, the patient would be referred for surgery.”

Cllr Andrea Simpson, Bury Council’s health representative, said: " I have reservations about delaying referrals to facilitate the courses as I feel that patients could engage with these interventions while on waiting lists.”

The proposal is part of a bigger drive by the CCG to persuade people to take more responsibility for their care by, for example, avoiding hospital and GP visits where possible by buying over-the-counter remedies.

Dr Patel added: “There is good evidence to show that the risks associated with surgery can be reduced, and patients can have better results in the longer term, if they are as fit as they can be at the point of surgery.

“There is good evidence that stopping smoking before surgery reduces complications such as chest infections and delays in wound healing. For other patients, there would be benefits from reaching a healthier weight before surgery.

“Being fit for surgery is in the interest of the patient in terms of their health and outcomes, and for the NHS by ensuring that every pound is spent to maximum gain.”

Bury Healthwatch, which represent the interests of patients in the borough, welcomed the idea.

Chief officer Mafooz Bibi said: “Any proposal which aims to get people as fit for surgery as possible, to improve their future outcomes, can only be a positive step.”