Nottingham
Ramsay Healthcare
Woodthorpe Hospital Visit Website

Sheffield
The Claremont Hospital

Grimsby
St Hugh's Hospital

Peterborough
Ramsay Healthcare
Fitzwilliam Hospital Visit Website

Why you should chose a NIOPPS accredited Clinic

By chosing a NIOPPS accredited centre, you are ensuring that you receive the very highest standard of care and the best possible programme, enabling you to lose excess weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Read NIOPPS members patient experiences and decide for yourself

Ms J. Y, Nottingham

I had a long assessment before I was considered for the gastric band, I was told that if I was unsuitable for the procedure then I wouldn’t be allowed to go forward with the operation. As a registered health professional myself, I really appreciated how ethical this was.

I was told in detail what would happen every step of the way. After I was discharged from hospital, I was contacted every day for the first 5 days, then I was seen in clinic on the 7th day. I was given detailed instructions on how to eat during the first 5 weeks, this is really important to let the band settle without and pressure on it.

I have been coached every step of the way, from how to stabilise my blood sugar, to how to deal with emotional eating. My band has been tightened gradually and I’ve learned new habits. I’ve been seen in clinic every month and I ring my nurse direct if I have any questions in between appointments. I feel lucky that my weight loss journey has been so smooth. I’ve been on forums and chatted to other ‘bandsters’, I’ve been lucky that I chose a good company to look after me, in fact they’re probably the best. I’m glad that now through NIOPPS everyone will be able to locate a hospital/company who have been recognised for their quality care standard practices. It’s about time!!!!!

Mrs S, Lincolnshire
“I had gastric band surgery as my final resort to lose this weight. My weight had been going up every year over the last 6 years and enough was enough. I had to do something about it. I had the gastric band surgery with another company as Gateway wasn’t up and running at that point. The company I went with wasn’t very good although the surgery went well the aftercare was very below standard and had very little support. Then a few months later I came across Gateway Health who have been so brilliant with me, even though I didn’t have the surgery with them they still cared for me like I had. They really do know their stuff and got me back on track and achieving a very good weight loss. They gave me lots of advice and taught me a lot about the band. I am now much more confident about controlling my weight because I know I’ve got the support behind me. "

I couldn’t have done it without them and anyone out there that is thinking of having weight loss surgery should look no further. Gateway Health provides the best care and you will not regret using this company. The nursing team are fantastic and I owe them a lot. My only regret is that I didn’t have my surgery with them as well. I would highly recommend Gateway to anyone struggling with excess weight and considering weight loss surgery.”

Miss T .Z, Sheffield
i had my gastric band done by a hospital in my local town, a big name in cosmetic surgery. A trusted name. Local hospital – good stuff I thought!

Fantastic after care, paid for X, Y and Z, everything I should need for success, well prepared!
The surgery went well, I rang to make my first appointment – they couldn’t fit me in on this day, that day or any other day I suggested. They were really quite difficult to deal with. In the end I didn’t get anything that I had paid for or had been promised and then they said that my programme had ended. I’ve been trying to take legal action against them for the last year, I’m getting nowhere. It’s made me so depressed.

I’ve had to go to another local hospital where I’ve had great care, but of course I’ve had to pay again for this. I strongly feel that there should be a body to regulate bad practice, I’m pleased to hear about NIOPPs and hopefully nobody will be taken for a ride like I was. If you’re thinking about weight loss surgery please do your research.

Ms D, South Yorkshire
I travelled to the west midlands for my gastric band as it was cheaper. I didn’t realise until after I’d had the operation what a mistake I’d made. After the operation I was put on to another company who were supposed to be experienced in looking after gastric band patients.

I went to the clinic they weighed me, I’d not lost any weight so they tightened my band, I went back the next month and again I’d not lost weight and they tightened the band again. I was getting really fed up when the 3rd time I went they weighed me, they said I must be eating high calorie food as I’d still not lost weight and tightened the band again. Soon after this tightening I started to feel really poorly, I went back to the clinic to ask for help but they had gone home for the day. I didn’t know what to do, in the end I went to casualty. I ended up having an X-Ray and they found out the band was too tight, I couldn’t even swallow my own spit. If I’d not gone to casualty then I dread to think what would have happened.
This frightening experience made me start asking around, looking on the internet to see what other people’s experiences were. I only wish I’d done this before having the band put in.

There are a lot of people out there who feel that they have been taken advantage of, they thought the band was the magical cure and were never told how important the aftercare is, the right aftercare that is - with people that care and know what they’re doing!! I found out there was a clinic in my local town (Doncaster) I went to this clinic and found out how the band works, what kind of food work best with the band and keep you feeling full for a long time. I realised that the reason that I’d not been losing weight was because I didn’t have a clue how the thing worked. The original company only weighed me, stuck a needle in, gave me no advise and nearly caused me massive problems. Now thankfully I’m being looked after and I’m on track and well on the way to being the slim person I’ve always wanted to be, but I’ve needed loads of advice and information and support to get there. I thought I was getting a good deal, in the end it’s cost me more than if I’d just done my homework instead of full steam ahead to the cheaper option.