Letter: Weighty argument

Sir: I don't really understand why smokers are annoyed because patients are refused treatment until they give up the habit.

As a member of Weight Watchers, I find it very noticeable that a number of people join because their GPs or the hospital have advised them to lose X-number of stones before they can have major surgery or hip replacements, to ensure a better chance of success.

After all, it is just wasting money if the consultants know that there is only a 50-50 chance of success instead of a 95 per cent. If the patients help themselves by not smoking or losing weight, then everyone benefits.

Yours sincerely,

B. A. COX

Solihull, West Midlands