03.02.11
Ambulance fleets upgraded for bigger patients
Ambulance fleets are being fitted specially with new equipment to deal with obese patients, according to a Freedom of Information request. The BBC found that every ambulance trust in the country has invested in specialist equipment such as wide stretchers, heavy lifting gear and vehicle reinforcements. The investigation found that many services are also using bariatric ambulances, costing up to £90,000 each, to cope with largest patients on double-width trolley stretchers. Jo Webber, director of the Ambulance Service Network, told the BBC: “The fact is patients are getting larger and larger and ambulances need to be able to respond immediately to what could be life-threatening situations. “Every service is having to invest money in this. It shows that some of the lifestyle changes we are seeing have a range of costs. It is not just about treating them, but the infrastructure costs as well.” Data revealed by the FoI request showed that one trust, South Central, has spent more than £1 million in the last three years to upgrade its 180-strong fleet.
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