55 patients a day too fat to travel

THE number of obese patients taken by ambulance to NHS appointments has nearly doubled in five years.

The Scottish Ambulance Service Patient Transport Service handles 55 patients too fat to travel independently every day.

The worrying figures show Scotland’s obesity crisis is taking its toll on under-pressure NHS services.

The service – which transports non-emergency patients between appointments – had to make ‘bariatric’ trips for more than 20,000 patients last year, up from 11,000 in 2011-12.

Bariatric ambulances have specialist equipment designed for transporting obese patients, which can include wheelchairs and lifting equipment.

The figures are the latest indication of a growing obesity crisis after reports revealed that tens of thousands of youngsters have started primary school overweight in recent years. A report by Food Standards Scotland yesterday warned children are eating more junk food.

The statistics were obtained by the Scottish Conservatives through Freedom of Information, and detail how some health boards have seen a fourfold rise. Demand for bariatric support has also prompted a rise in complaints about the NHS non-emergency transport service from patients.

Ambulance board papers in May stated: ‘The number of complex patients has increased: eg patients who require bariatric support.’

The Scottish Conservatives said obesity was now putting additional strain on an ambulance service already struggling with sickness absence and meeting targets.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘This is yet another indication that Scotland is suffering badly from an obesity crisis. The issue is proving itself to be the country’s next big public health challenge.

‘Of course all patients have to be helped to these appointments. But this serves as further warning that action must be taken to improve the lifestyle and diet of people.’

Yesterday, a Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We are monitoring the numbers of bariatric PTS requests across the whole of Scotland, while working closely with health and social care partner organisations to manage more complex patient needs.’