Obese woman gets gastric surgery

Maxine Wood said she had dieted unsuccessfully for years

A woman who had been turned down for gastric surgery on the NHS because she was too overweight has been told she can now have the operation.

Maxine Wood, 46, of Chaddesden in Derby, had been told she needed to lose weight before being considered for stomach-shrinking surgery.

She has managed to lose a total of 3st 4lbs (20.87kg) so far, following a protein-based diet and exercise.

Mrs Wood hopes to have a gastric bypass operation by the end of the year.

I've still got to work at it but it's a tool to get my life back Maxine Wood

She said she aims to bring her weight down to 20st (127 kg) before she has the procedure at Derby City Hospital.

After she was initially turned down for the NHS surgery her family planned a series of fund-raising events to pay for the operation privately.

NHS consultants in Derby had told her a gastric bypass operation was too risky.

Mrs Wood said she was ecstatic after finally being told she could have the surgery.

"I've got a future, I know I've still got to work at it but it's a tool to get my life back."