Should people who are overweight get any treatment in hospitals? How about smokers? Should they be barred from surgery on the NHS? Is refusing care justified on medical grounds? In short, no. Sorry rape victim, not going near you, you smell of fags and hamburgers. Of course, I'm using an unnecessarily harsh example to grab your attention, for which I apologise.
Quite why the ITV newsroom would want to look at this is beyond me, but that's what they're doing in Too Fat for Treatment: Tonight (ITV1, Monday, 8pm). This kind of titillating horsefart is guaranteed to get my hackles up. Should we stop treatment for rock climbers? 'You were asking for it... now take your smashed up spine elsewhere... we've got boring people to look after.' I've no idea which side of the fence this show sits on (it won't be impartial... broadcasters rarely are if we're being honest), but it seems like a non starter. You pay your taxes, you deserve treatment. Anyone who says otherwise is a heartless oaf (that saves on heart operations in fairness). Should they be debating 'Should the tax from packets of cigarettes only go to those who smoke?' That would be interesting.
The problem with this program was that at no point was it mentioned that thanks to new government initiatives such as 2week suspected cancer appointments, choose and book appointments and the latest 18 week pathway, the NHS service, together with it's staff is at breaking point. To paraphrase an old wartime expression, we are underfunded, understaffed and overwhelmed.