NHS Spending on Obesity Ambulances Doubles as Britain’s Weight Crisis Deepens | UK | News
NHS spending on specialist ambulances and equipment for obese patients has more than doubled in a year, new figures reveal.
Data released under Freedom of Information laws shows the NHS has spent £20.7 million on bariatric ambulances and related equipment since 2020; these include stretchers, lift chairs and reinforced ramps designed to safely transport and treat heavier patients.
Overall, NHS ambulance trusts across the UK spent a total of £4.98 million in 2024 alone; This is the highest figure in a five-year period.
The findings also show a 123 percent increase in spending between 2023 and 2024; This reflects a sharp increase in demand for vehicles and equipment adapted for people with obesity or severe mobility problems.
Research obtained by online pharmacy Chemist4U reveals that there have been at least 157,240 emergency calls requiring bariatric ambulances or equipment since 2020; however, the actual number is likely to be higher as some trusts use bariatric-equipped vehicles for all emergency interventions.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said:
“Like all ambulance organisations, West Midlands Ambulance Service has dedicated bariatric capacity for patients who require it. All our emergency ambulances have bariatric capacity, but we also have vehicles equipped with specialist stretchers and lift and transport kit in addition to those carried in our standard fleet.”
Obesity will cost the NHS £11.4bn by 2025, according to government estimates; This figure is almost double the £6.5bn forecast in 2023. This condition is linked to a wide range of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers.
Public Health England data shows two-thirds of adults in England are now classed as overweight or obese. One in five children starting primary school in 2023 was obese or overweight; In the 6th year, this rate increased to one third. These rates have remained high since the pandemic, with the largest increases recorded in poorer areas.
Rising obesity among children could lead to record numbers of young people needing treatment for type 2 diabetes and musculoskeletal problems in the next decade, a 2024 NHS England report has warned.
Chemist4U Pharmacy Manager Jason Murphy said the new data showed the scale of the challenge facing ambulance services and the wider NHS.
“The increase in spending on bariatric ambulances and equipment highlights the growing impact of obesity and weight-related health problems across the UK.
“Reducing the number of obese people will not only reduce spending on specialized equipment but also reduce spending on treating obesity-related diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.”
