Health New Zealand's rejecting claims patients with a high body mass index were declined specialist appointments at Wellington Hospital

Three GPs told The Post their patients had been rejected for general and orthopaedic surgeries, based on BMI.

Doctor Sarah Leilua says it seems they're not willing to see patients who would go on their wait lists and make them look bad.

Chief clinical officer, Doctor Richard Sullivan says wait lists aren't being managed by the index.

He says people are being declined assessments for multiple reasons, not just based on their BMI.