Yes there are many lifestyle choices which contribute to poor health outcomes, smoking being the big elephant in the room. Also alcohol and drug use is alarming high, particularly in Limerick. And the illnesses which result from these lifestyle choices significantly impact our health service. Obesity is the leading cause of death worldwide and whether that leads to unsavoury places or not, I apologise but it is fact. And yes we perform CPR on anyone that requires it but it is hugely more difficult to carry out CPR on an overweight/obese person. The higher the BMI index is, the lower the quality of CPR received becomes. It is almost impossible to compress the chest deep enough in accordance with CPR recommendations. And I have no issue with my tax money paying for our public health services but I do have a problem with those who dodge paying tax but will still expect us to perform miracles when their health concerns are primarily attributed to their own choices. Smoke, eat all the food, take all the drugs, drink all the alcohol, yes it is an individuals choice but don’t expect to arrive in A&E to nurses waving magic wands to fix it all and then get nasty when told it’s not possible and the damage is done. Yes we can treat a condition and manage symptoms but there isn’t always a magic cure.
If I knew then what I know now I would have been a vet. Animals are so much preferable to humans.