A Welsh health board could ask smokers and obese patients to go on anti-smoking and weight loss courses before they can have certain operations.
The proposals would not include those who need emergency treatment, and patients would receive treatment upon completion of the course. But it's been condemned by one leading obesity group.
The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board say that plans to force overweight patients to go on weight loss courses before they can undergo planned surgery would not mean they were refusing anyone surgery.
In a statement they said that the proposal would "encourage a change in unhealthy behaviours and require smokers and obese patients to take part in lifestyle courses ahead of any planned surgery will be discussed next week."
They said they hope it would help to encourage a lifestyle change by "providing information on the risks of smoking and obesity."
They say they hope next week's discussion will continue engagement with the public, staff and stakeholders on action to support health improvement.
A south Wales health board are considering making smokers and overweight patients go on stop-smoking and weight-loss courses before they can have certain operations.
The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board says anyone who smokes or has a body mass index (BMI) of above 40 would need to complete a course before being eligible for surgery.
The health board say these are only proposals at the moment but that they would not include anyone requiring emergency treatment.
An art exhibition by young patients depicting their experiences of hospital has been described as 'eye-opening' by staff working in the health sector.
– Linda Hughes-Jones, Cardiff and Vale University Health BoardLooking at the way the children have expressed themselves through their artwork gives us, as adults and clinicians, a very different perspective on what it’s like to be a young person in hospital.
We hope that this year’s art project has provided our young patients with an opportunity to express themselves through creative work and helped them feel more comfortable at what can be a worrying time in their lives.
Children's Commissioner Keith Towler will today visit Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales to unveil an art exhibition depicting young patients' experiences of hospital.
The youngsters have worked alongside artists from Valley and Vale Community Arts for the project, which is funded by the Arts Council of Wales.
Many patients have long-term conditions which make them frequent visitors to the children's hospital.
Through the project, they turned to paint and pencils to share their their emotions as they went through treatment.
Linda Hughes-Jones, who works for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and also led the project, said the artwork is 'eye-opening' and has given health workers 'a different perspective' on how it feels to be a young person in hospital.
The artwork will be displayed on the hospital walls, as well as appearing in a short DVD.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has issued advice to patients following heavy snowfall overnight.
Some outpatient clinics scheduled for today have been cancelled and the health board says that the patients affected have already been contacted by telephone.
At this stage, if patients have not heard otherwise, remaining outpatient clinics are said to be going ahead as normal.
Local people are being urged to take extra care when out and about during snowy conditions and to avoid coming to the University Hospital of Wales' Emergency Unit unless absolutely necessary.
– Dr Graham Shortland, University Health Board Medical DirectorWe have implemented our adverse weather plan to make sure that we keep vital services in place for those in the greatest need.
We know that some people with minor ailments choose to turn up at the Emergency Unit when that's really not the right place for them to be seen. Patients are prioritised on the basis of clinical need, so if your condition can be treated by a GP or pharmacist for example, you may have to wait to be seen or be redirected to another service.