If you’ve been researching weight loss surgery abroad, you may have come across this headline:

GPs told they can decline private bariatric surgery aftercare requests

The first time I read it, I honestly felt sick. I thought:

• What if they won’t help me?
• What if I need a blood test and they say no?
• Have I just paid thousands to be medically blacklisted?

It sent me into a full spiral. I started imagining scenarios where I was denied care, or treated like some irresponsible tourist who’d brought back a dodgy souvenir in the shape of a rearranged stomach.

But now that I’ve stepped back and looked at it with a calmer head (and some proper research), here’s what I’ve learned.

The guidance given to some GPs is that they are not obliged to provide routine follow-up for privately arranged bariatric surgery, especially if done outside the UK.

This mostly means things like:

• Regular vitamin level checks
• Monitoring weight loss progress
• Ongoing dietician support

So if you were hoping your GP would automatically manage your full post-op plan for free… they might not. But, and this is key, that’s not the same as being left without care. Even if they decline routine monitoring, your GP still has a duty of care. You’re still a patient. You’re still entitled to:

• Treatment for new or worrying symptoms
• Prescriptions for nutritional deficiencies if needed
• Action on abnormal test results (even if you paid privately for the test)
• Emergency or urgent medical care

If something goes wrong, they help. Full stop.

The truth is, the idea that “they might refuse to help” hits hard, especially when you’ve spent years being dismissed or judged for your weight in the first place.

It felt like great, I finally take control and now I’ll be punished for it. But that’s not what’s happening here.

GPs aren’t being forced to say no. They’re being told they can choose not to take on the full care plan for something they didn’t refer you for. That’s a boundary, not abandonment.

This isn’t new. GPs have had this discretion for years, it’s just getting attention now. Plenty of GPs still help. Especially if you’re respectful, informed, and come with paperwork. Private backup exists. You can get tests, vitamins, and dietitian support without needing your GP for every step.

If this news scared you, you’re not weak. You’re human. This isn’t about being abandoned. It’s about learning how to navigate a system that isn’t perfect, but can still work with you. You’re not alone. You’re not foolish. You’re not without options. And honestly? You’re doing better than you think.