Benefits and Bypasses: Billion Pound Patients

Synopsis

Britain is a nation of bingers, and the bill is landing on the NHS. With the health service facing a thirty billion pound funding gap, health chiefs have begun pointing the finger at the people who drink, smoke and eat to excess. This Channel 5 documentary meets four of the patients behind that headline and asks whether the label of 'scrounger' is remotely fair. Julie, 39, has twice been left unconscious by her drinking and is fighting to stay sober, knowing one more drink could kill her. Barry, 57, has lost his left leg to smoking after a series of costly operations, and still cannot give up. Rochelle, 21, weighs thirty stone, is starting to fall ill because of her weight, and blames the NHS for failing her. Danny, 56, has been warned his diet will kill him and faces weight-loss surgery costing thousands.