The Liberal Democrats have revealed that health boards are spending millions of pounds on equipment to deal with obese patients.

Figures released under Freedom of Information show that health boards have spent almost £4.4 million in recent years. This is only the tip of the iceberg because the two biggest Health Boards, NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have refused to publish the information, claiming that the cost of pulling together all the receipts is too large.

The shopping list includes £1.3 million on extra wide, high capacity beds, £29,000 on extra wide bedside chairs, almost £316,000 on hoist systems, almost £60,000 on longer versions of standard surgical instruments and over £16,000 on extra strong commodes, walking frames and transfer trolleys.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie MSP said:

“Some of our Health Boards are spending millions of pounds on specialist equipment for obese patients.

“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.

“Obesity is Scotland’s ticking time-bomb. The most recent figures show that a fifth of Primary 1 children are obese and if this is allowed to continue then the recent improvements in, for example, the level of heart disease will rapidly be reversed.

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

“The SNP Government must tackle this. Taking steps to stop our young people becoming overweight in the first place is obviously the best way forward.

“For instance, the £4.4 million currently spent by some of our Health Boards on equipment for obese patients could buy 150 P.E teachers. This would help get more of our young people involved in sport at an earlier age, setting them up for a healthier lifestyle as an adult.”

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