Channel 5 (UK) Documentaries

Benefits and Bypasses: Billion Pound Patients (2015x34)

Fecha de emisión: Abr 07, 2015

Meet the patients who are costing the NHS a fortune. They have been dubbed ‘scroungers’ for expecting the NHS to pick up the pieces of their bad habits, but is this really the case? Did they ever imagine their habits would leave them in need of expensive life-saving treatment? Julie, 39, has been in a coma twice because of her drinking. As she’s released from her latest hospital stay, she works hard to stay sober, knowing that one more drink could kill her. Barry, 57, has already lost his left leg due to smoking, through a series of costly surgeries - but he refuses to quit – will he manage it before he loses his other leg? Rochelle, 21, is 30 stone and starting to get ill because of her weight. She wants to be on sickness benefit and blames the NHS for failing to help her. Danny, 56, has been warned that his life is at risk due to his bad diet. The Diabetes patient faces weight loss surgery to save his life which will cost thousands of pounds. On the front line in A&E, in hospital wards across the country, doctors and nurses battle to hold back the flood of patients coming through their doors asking for help for their self-inflicted health problems. Can we stop our bingeing before the NHS goes bust?