Obese Man in Court to Fight for Surgery

Thomas Conliffe is challenging NHS North Staffordshire's refusal to fund his obesity surgery due to his body mass index not meeting their criteria. He argues that the surgery would improve his life expectancy and reduce medical costs. His legal team claims the NHS failed to consider his social circumstances, infringing on his human rights. The Royal College of Surgeons supports surgery for significant weight loss, but NHS policies vary. If the court rules in Conliffe's favor, it could lead to increased demands for similar treatments, impacting NHS resources.

What does the Royal College of Surgeons say about the effectiveness of weight loss surgery?

What potential consequences did NHS North Staffordshire mention if the court required them to fund the surgery?