HUNDREDS OF British ambulances are to be replaced by new vehicles fitted with heavy-duty wheelchairs, super-sized trolleys and hoists to carry obese passengers, because the average patient is five stone (32kg) heavier than a decade ago.
The new “bariatric” ambulances, costing £90,000 (€106,500) each, are being introduced gradually into the 13 ambulance fleets serving England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, said the Ambulance Service Network. This move is the result of difficulties paramedics are experiencing as they struggle to get heavier patients into the cabin of the ambulance.
“A few years ago – probably only 10 years ago – your average patient was 12 to13 stone, now that’s probably 17 to 18 stone. And we quite regularly see patients around 30 stone in weight and even bigger than that,” said Nigel Wells, operations manager of the West Midands Ambulance Service, which has already bought four of the new vehicles.
Jonathan Fox, of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel said: “It is becoming increasingly frequent that the size of patients causes problems moving them and that in turn increases the risk of injury to staff. That is why we need this equipment. We are not just talking about those that are really heavy, even patients who are 16, 17 stone can pose difficulties.
Standard ambulances can carry patients weighing up to 20 stone, but the new models are designed to cope with a 50-stone weight, with the use of specially-designed bariatric double-width trolleys. The double-width stretchers, costing between £7,000 and £10,000, can be used in older ambulances, although not extended to their full width as there is not enough room.
An adjustable stretcher, which can be raised or lowered to help patients get on or off, is also supplied, costing £7,000. Hoists capable of taking weights over 40 stone and stronger tail-lifts capable of coping with 75 stone are also being supplied. The tail-lifts should help to reduce the growing numbers of ambulance staff taking sick-leave over back injuries, says the South Central Ambulance Service.
