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Cost of specialist equipment to NHS revealed
5:54pm Tuesday 6th January 2009
Comments (7)Bradford’s growing obesity epidemic is costing the NHS tens of thousands of pounds to fund extra-large equipment needed for overweight patients, new figures have revealed.
A total of £49,853 has been spent by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, and a further £26,446 by Airedale NHS Trust, which runs Airedale Hospital, on specialist beds, chairs and operating tables for seriously overweight patients.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the Bradford Trust spent £45,000 on an operating table and one trolley that can support overweight patients, with a further £4,853 spent on hiring equipment between 2006 and 2008.
In addition £24,458 was spent by Airedale on nine strengthened beds, two trolleys, two chairs and an operating table, on top of £1,988 on hiring over-sized equipment.
Dr Shirley Brierley, consultant in public health at Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (tPCT), said: “Obesity is a huge issue nationally, and is also one of our top health priorities in Bradford. Many people are not fully aware that being overweight can lead to major health problems including heart disease and cancer.
“We fund a wide range of weight management and exercise programmes designed for different age groups, and also encourage people to eat a well balanced diet and be physically active on a regular basis.”
A spokesman for Airedale Trust confirmed the figures but said it had nothing further to add.
Nationally, the figures showed NHS trusts have spent at least £44.8 million on specialist equipment for obese people in recent years.
The Conservative Party, which obtained the information, said it showed the Government was failing to take the problem of obesity seriously.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley accused Labour of complacency when it came to tackling Britain’s “ticking obesity time-bomb”.
The Government has admitted the costs of obesity are significant, warning that obesity and overweight people are forecast to cost the nation £50 billion – half the entire NHS budget for a year – by 2050 if the trend continues unchecked. It has set a target to reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels by 2020.
Your Say YourBradford Telegraph and Argus
mrs walker, Round here says...
10:13pm Tue 6 Jan 09
Everyone's entitled to treatment but 'Patient, heal thyself..' as they say - if we're not prepared to look after our own health and well-being, why should we expect the NHS to bear the burden?
Cakeface, Shipley says...
7:50am Wed 7 Jan 09
tyker, midland road says...
8:26am Wed 7 Jan 09
I thought we had spent millions on educating people about things like this.
However if the obesity is caused by malfunctions of the body over which there is no external control then there is no problem about paying for treatment.
Where it is natually self inflicted then no amount of money will resolve the problem as it comes down to self help just as stopping smoking/stopping drinking is. eating excess food is an addiction!
Dr Evil, Saltaire says...
8:29pm Wed 7 Jan 09
tyker wrote:And ADDICTION IS AN ILLNESS.
seems quite a fat figure to treat a fat figure.
I thought we had spent millions on educating people about things like this.
However if the obesity is caused by malfunctions of the body over which there is no external control then there is no problem about paying for treatment.
Where it is natually self inflicted then no amount of money will resolve the problem as it comes down to self help just as stopping smoking/stopping drinking is. eating excess food is an addiction!
Lellric, Bradford says...
11:11pm Wed 7 Jan 09
Mik_e wrote:Yes Mik_e & my mother in law who has breast cancer is being denied Herceptin as it's deemed too expensive yet she too has paid her NHS contributions all her life too!
I feel it would be fair to say, that a lot of these people have paid their NHS contributions, just as much as athletes and extreme sports enthusiasts, who also put a demand on the NHS. All sections of society contribute and all should be entitled to treatment.
Victor Clayton, Clayton says...
1:40pm Fri 9 Jan 09
Dr Shirley Brierley, consultant in public health at Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust
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Mik_e, Bradford says...
8:21pm Tue 6 Jan 09