Scotland's growing obesity scourge costs NHS millions

Published on Tuesday 15 September 2009 22:03

THE NHS in Scotland is spending millions of pounds on special equipment to treat obese patients.

In the past two to five years, health boards have spent almost 4.4 million on items such as extra-wide beds, wider bedside chairs and wider wheelchairs, according to figures revealed under freedom of information.

The Liberal Democrats' health spokesman, Ross Finnie, warned that the total could be just the tip of the iceberg.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian – Scotland's two biggest health boards – said they could not release the data as the cost of pulling it together was too high.

The figures showed health boards have spent more than 1.3m on extra-wide beds suitable for obese patients, while bosses at NHS Fife spent 79,500 on larger tables for operating theatres.

The bill for longer versions of standard surgical instruments reached almost 60,000, while overhead gantry systems to lift overweight patients have cost just over 315,000.

"Some of our health boards are spending millions of pounds on specialist equipment for obese patients," Mr Finnie said.

"It's well known that obesity increases the risk of heart disease, cancer and strokes. This already places a great strain on NHS resources. But now we can see just how much health boards have to spend to adapt hospitals for these patients."

Mr Finnie described obesity as being "Scotland's ticking time bomb". The most recent figures show that a fifth of youngsters in primary one are obese.

Scotland now has the second-highest levels of obesity in the developed world, just behind the United States. Since 1995, obesity in the adult population has increased by 46 per cent.

Mr Finnie called on the Scottish Government to do more to tackle the problem.

"There is clearly a huge personal cost attached to obesity, but these figures also show that there is a hidden cost to the NHS," he said.

Dr Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: "We have got to treat these people, and if that means investing in equipment, it has to be. But it should redouble our efforts to stop this happening in the first place. The best place to begin is with children."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "Tackling obesity is a high priority for this government. That's why we are investing 56m over three years in initiatives to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity."

BIG MONEY

Spending on equipment for use by obese people in Scottish hospitals:

&#149 Wide beds, designed to accommodate obese patients – 1.3 million

&#149 Wider bedside chairs – 29,400

&#149 Wider wheelchairs – 14,900

&#149 Longer versions of standard surgical instruments – 59,500

&#149 Overhead gantry systems to lift overweight patients – 315,650

&#149 Extra-large sterile pyjamas – 120

&#149 Larger theatre tables – 79,500