A multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a group of healthcare professionals who work together to help people who are considering or have undergone bariatric (weight loss surgery). The team approach ensures that you will receive comprehensive care, support, and guidance throughout your weight loss journey.
Weight loss surgery is generally low risk but learning to use your surgery as a tool for change is essential for excellent outcomes. This is why weight loss surgery providers should offer an MDT approach to surgery.
At Verve Health Group we have a number of different types of health professionals to support you, including:
- Bariatric Surgeons
- Dietitians
- Clinical Psychologists
- Endocrinologist
- Specialist Pharmacist
Check out our ‘Meet The Team’ page. Here's how they help:
1. Complete Health Check
- Medical Check-Up: Our surgeons check your overall health to make sure you’re a good candidate for surgery.
- Nutritional Advice: Dietitians assess your current eating habits and provide dietary advice.
- Mental Health Support: Our clinical psychologists talk to you about your feelings, patterns of emotional eating and readiness for surgery.
2. Preparing for Surgery
- Education and Information: You’ll learn about the surgery, what to expect, and the benefits and risks.
- Pre-Surgery Diet: You will be given a special diet to follow before surgery to help reduce risks. This is known as the Liver-Reduction Diet.
- Medical Preparations: If appropriate, we liaise with your GP to ensure that any existing health issues are managed and you’re in the best possible condition for surgery. We will also copy your GP into your letters so that they are aware of your care needs.
3. Personalised Surgery Planning
- Tailored Plans: Our MDT creates a customised plan for your surgery based on your specific health needs.
- Choosing the Right Surgery: Our MDT helps to decide the best type of surgery for you, such as gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or gastric band.
4. Support After Surgery
- Hospital Recovery: After surgery, the MDT in conjunction with the hospital team, ensures you recover well and manages any of your immediate needs.
- Dietary Guidance: Dietitians help you transition to your new way of eating, providing advice on what and how much to eat.You will be given an eating plan for the first 4-6 weeks, depending on your surgery.
- Emotional Support: Depending on the package of aftercare you choose, Clinical Psychologists are available to help you cope with any emotional changes or challenges after surgery. If you do not have a package that includes psychological support, you can add this on as needed.
- Email Updates: The MDT have written a series of emails to support you through your surgery and beyond. You will receive these over the course of your support with us, each containing information at the time you are likely to need it.
5. Long-Term Follow-Up
- Regular Check-Ups: You’ll have regular appointments to monitor your progress, weight loss, and overall health. These will be a combination of in-person at your hospital, and online. There are different packages of care after surgery spanning different lengths of time. The MDT will help you to choose which option best suits your needs.
- Problem Solving: The MDT helps identify and manage any complications and side effects of surgery.
- Nutritional Monitoring: The amount of nutrients you will be able to absorb from food will change after surgery and so it is essential that your nutritional bloods are regularly monitored by specialist dietitians.
6. Healthy Lifestyle Changes
- Nutrition Advice: Our dietitians continue to provide advice to ensure you’re eating a balanced, nutritious diet. We have dietitians who are specialists in Women’s Health and also sports nutrition after weight loss surgery, if you need more specific nutritional advice.
- Behavioural Strategies: Our clinical psychologists work with you on strategies to handle cravings, emotional eating, and other challenges.
7. Ongoing Education and Research
- Keeping You Informed: The team provides continuous education about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and recognising any potential issues.
- Advancing Care: Some members of our MDT are involved in research to develop our understanding, and improve weight loss surgery and obesity management. They help to ensure that the MDT is providing the very best care possible.
Chat to us if you'd like more information about the support we offer. You can also have a look at the different aftercare options we provide.
Or send us a message