NHS Oxfordshire is steering a sensible middle course with its new policy over encouraging surgery patients to attempt to cut weight or stop smoking rather than an outright ban.

Health chiefs in Hertfordshire have banned those smoking and over a certain body mass index from having routine surgery.

As we report today, NHS Oxfordshire takes a far more subtle approach.

It “encourages” patients needing this type of surgery to choose to move towards a healthier lifestyle.

For instance, while it insists smokers have to enrol on a cessation course, it does not then demand proof they are now smoke free.

Some will say it is too much interference by the State in people’s choices about what they do with their own bodies.

There is merit to that argument, but why should the State then pour valuable resources into people who are knowingly making choices that are counter to a healthy lifestyle.

Being healthier is likely to lead to a quicker recovery so it is sensible to steer people towards helping themselves.