General surgery

Health NZ provides general surgery services across New Zealand. Find out about the services provided, referral processes and contact details.

Bariatric surgery

Bariatrics is a branch of medicine that specialises in the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. Bariatric surgery is a form of surgery that is designed to facilitate weight loss. The terms weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery and metabolic surgery are used interchangeably.

Referral process by district for bariatric surgery

Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti, Wairarapa, Manawatū-Whanganui and Hawke's Bay

The Central Region Metabolic and Bariatric Service (CRMBS) provides publicly funded weight loss surgery for patients residing in:

Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti
Wairarapa
Manawatū-Whanganui
Hawke's Bay

People may be eligible for the surgery if they:

weigh less than 160kg and their Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than 35 and less than 55.
are being treated for obesity related conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure (hypertension), high amounts of cholesterol in the blood (hypercholesterolaemia), infertility, arthritis.
have not smoked cigarettes or used nicotine replacement products for at least 6 months.