242 Impact and Outcomes of Secondary Care Referrals to a Local Bariatric Unit

Abstract Aim The demand for bariatric services is rising, driven in part by growing evidence supporting the positive health outcomes associated with bariatric surgery. This has led to increased referrals from secondary care specialties. However, data on the clinical impact, patient attrition, and outcomes specific to this referral pathway remain limited. This study evaluates the outcomes of patients referred to a local bariatric unit from secondary care. Method A retrospective review was conducted over a two-year period, identifying patients referred by secondary care clinicians. After excluding duplicates and referrals for postoperative advice, 114 patients were included. Data collected included referral BMI, indication (e.g., surgical optimisation), pre-existing obesity-associated comorbidities, pathway progression (self-discharge, formal discharge, continued engagement), bariatric intervention, and change in BMI at one-week post-intervention. Results The majority of referrals were for surgical optimisation, with orthopaedics being the most common referring specialty. At baseline, the average BMI was 50.42 and 89.5% of patients had at least one obesity-associated comorbidity. The overall attrition rate was 51.8%, primarily due to non-attendance at the initial group education session, particularly among male patients. Of those retained in the pathway, 33% are currently awaiting multidisciplinary team (MDT) review, while 14.9% have either been listed for or undergone a bariatric intervention. Conclusions Secondary care referrals contribute significantly to bariatric service demand and often represent patients with complex clinical needs. High early attrition highlights a key area for service improvement. Further evaluation of long-term outcomes and strategies to enhance pathway retention is warranted.