The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Cash on special equipment for obese becomes big issue
Health: NHS Grampian faces ‘dilemma’ amid calls to tackle root causes
Health chiefs in the northeasthave spent £118,300on specialist equipment to care for obese people since 2011.
NHS Grampian has spent the cash on items including specially-made beds, mattresses, crutches, shower chairs and toilets.
A further £77,000 was spent on 12 specialist beds between April 2006 and May 2011.
Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients' Association, said the NHS should be doing more to get to the root of the problem.
She said: “Instead of plugging the hole, we should be looking at the reasons why so many people are admitted into hospital for obesity.
“We should be helping these patients to return to their homes and not using up NHS funding and valuable hospital beds.”
AspokeswomanforNHS Grampian insisted the purchases represented value for money.
She said: “Some of this equipment is geared specifically towards the needs of overweight or obese patients. However, much of it can be used for any patient.
“Equipment i s purchased through a na- tional procurement programme to ensure value for money. We have a duty to treat all patients and, as such, we need to have a range of equipment and facilities available to meet their needs.”
Scotland is the second most obese nation in the world, beaten only by the US. The issue is estimated to cost NHS Scotland more than £200million annually, with more people turning to surgery than ever before.
Figures previously showed NHS Grampian spent more than £2million carrying out weight loss surgery on 164 patients between 2008 and 2012.
Jill Tipping, director of obesity support charity HOOP, said the challenge had created a difficult dilemma for the NHS.
She said: “We would always prefer money to be spentondeveloping weight management services, including psychological services and support.
" However, you can't leave people in discomfort as that would be detrimental to t heir weight loss.”