Internal Reference Number: FOI_9588
Date Request Received: 31/07/2026 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 09/09/2026 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Criteria for hernia surgery and other matters.
Request Category: Private Individuals
| Question Number 1: Please list your criteria for hernia surgery and state the reason you would refuse to operate on someone. | |
| Answer To Question 1: This is not recorded information. We have provided the criteria for referral from primary care for a surgical OPINION 鈥� this is listed in the BSW document BSW-ICB-CP018 - Hernia - Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB. Please note that the document does not cover abdominal wall and the criteria is different depending on which county the patient is referred from. There is a specific comment in the document that a referal may not lead to an operation. In order to assist you, here is some additional information on when a referral may not lead to an operation: It is a clinical decision and there is no set criteria. The surgeons would not offer an elective hernia operation if they felt the risks of elective surgery outweighed the benefits of the surgery at that particular time. The surgeons would always assess a patient on an individual basis and where the decision making is difficult (i.e. an operation may be a greater risk than their pathology is) the process is to involve others in this decision making process as a multi-disciplinary team. If someone was not satisfied with a decision they can, and are encouraged to, seek a second opinion. This is part of patient choice. The Trust cannot comment on individual cases under the FOI Act 2000. | |
| Question Number 2: A person with a hernia that has a large bulge was told to buy a belt to push this in from Amazon, or another supplier. It would seem that it is for the NHS to supply this as it needs to be measured and fitted. Is it the case that you refuse to provide these items for patients? | |
| Answer To Question 2: The Trust cannot comment on individual cases under the FOI Act 2000. The Trust has an orthotics department, and regularly refer patients for a hernia truss or abdominal wall binder. These binders / supports are measured and fitted. A lot of patients find options you can buy online significantly more comfortable / wearable day-to-day. It is normal practice to offer referral to orthotics for binder fitting, but advise patients about other options available. | |
| Question Number 3: A person with a hernia who was told this was life threatening and in urgent need of surgery in another hospital was refused surgery in SA国际传媒 Hospital. This means the person will be in pain for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are in great discomfort otherwise, having been left with this for 2 years. Prima Facie this breaches Articles (2) and (3) Human Rights Act 1998. Has anyone sued the hospital using these statutes? | |
| Answer To Question 3: The Trust cannot comment on individual patient circumstances under the FOI Act 2000. The information requested is not recorded information held by the Trust. The Trust has a duty to advise and assist you in order to support the FOI process. Please see the message sent on 7th July 2026 advising how the questions could be rephrased which would have a greater chance of being provided with information which is held by the Trust. You may also wish to consider contacting NHS Resolutions who may hold this information. | |
| Question Number 4: In each of the 3 years to 31 March 2026 how many people were refused to be put on your waiting list for any reason? | |
| Answer To Question 4: This is not information that is recorded in the Trust systems. | |
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