An award winning private ambulance service which started in Aycliffe has invested £140,000 in two new ambulances and equipment after obese patients had to wait up to a week to be discharged from hospitals. The incidents prompted Medical Services (North East) to buy super-size ambulances and specialist equipment to expand the services they provide.
The new ambulances can carry patients who weigh up to 50 stones offering a safe and dignified transport solution to those whose weight, or condition require more specialist transport. Joanne Hall, Commercial Director says “It is important that we offer first class ambulance services to the whole community, and size should not be a barrier to patient care. Medical Services North East is in an ideal position to offer this service and we need to be able to support our local hospitals, patients and NHS Trusts.”
All staff working with this group of patients are given additional training which includes understanding bariatric needs, specialist moving and handling of the bariatric patient, risk assessments, and training on all equipment used.
Tracey Carr, from Bolton was on hand to offer advice and support and also explain what it was like to be an obese person and allowed herself to be used as a live demonstration model so staff could practise specialist handling techniques. Miss Carr, who runs her own website, www.fatlotsheknows.co.uk, said: “There’s a lot of guilt associated with being large and a lot of fear that people will hurt themselves helping us.” She appealed for people to show more compassion towards very large patients. For services provided by Medical Services (North East) Limited, go to www.msne.co.uk
