NZNO nurses, healthcare assistants and some midwives plan to strike from 9am on Wednesday 30 July to 9am on Thursday 31 July. Patient safety is our priority and our hospitals will remain open. Continue to attend all appointments unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule.
Bariatric surgery is used if you are very overweight and have not been able to control your weight through any other method. In Northland, bariatric surgery is carried out at Whangārei Hospital. You need to be referred to our service.
Northland health offers 2 types of bariatric surgery:
The operation is only part of your weight management journey. Our team will support you before, during and for several years after your surgery.
This video covers:
Introduction to bariatric surgery - YouTube
For 6 to 12 months before your surgery, you will work with the team members to prepare for your surgery and ongoing lifestyle changes.
You will need to attend clinic appointments and education sessions. Where possible, we try to provide these clinics and sessions online, over the phone or in the regional hospital closest to your home. You will still need to visit Whangārei Hospital for some appointments. You must attend all appointments.
Before surgery, most people will need to have a pre-surgery very low-calorie diet (VLCD) such as Optifast for at least 2 weeks.
You will have your operation at Whangārei Hospital and will stay in hospital for around 2 to 3 days afterwards.
You are likely to need around a month off work to adjust to your new way of life after surgery.
You will need to attend follow up clinics and sessions. We try to provide these online, over the phone or in the regional hospital closes to your home.
You need to be referred by your healthcare provider. There are clear criteria for who is eligible for publicly funded surgery. Surgery is targeted at those who have obesity and significant weight-related illnesses.
Contact the bariatric surgery team on:
