Anyone seen the £50.000 pound ambulance that has been added to the South Yorkshire Ambulance fleet?
It is designed to carry heavy patients up to 45 stone.
Has anyone any idea how many times this vehicle will be used?
My husband worked for the ambulance service for four years as a part time ambulanceman and both he and his fellow workers could not believe the waste of money and spent on some of the managements 'good ideas'.
Any help to assist ambulance staff and patients is of course needed, however, ambulance crews and fire service staff have dealt with heavy patients for many years without problems.
A spokesman for the ambulance service stated that being able to use this new vehicle, it would save embarrasment to the patient by not calling the fire service to remove them from the house.
Has this new ambulance got equipment to remove windows and doors, will it have extra members of staff travelling in it to lift the patient?
As for the patient being embarrased (I can fully understand that), if something unusual is going on at a house, you can be sure no matter who is there,fire, police, ambulance, there will be people wanting to see what is going on.
As my husband and work friends have said may times before, it's about time money was used for more urgent issues, such as better staff training, better vehicles and improved services for the most important factor, the patients.

Originally posted by samcoo
Anyone seen the £50.000 pound ambulance that has been added to the South Yorkshire Ambulance fleet?
It is designed to carry heavy patients up to 45 stone.
Has anyone any idea how many times this vehicle will be used?
My husband worked for the ambulance service for four years as a part time ambulanceman and both he and his fellow workers could not believe the waste of money and spent on some of the managements 'good ideas'.
Any help to assist ambulance staff and patients is of course needed, however, ambulance crews and fire service staff have dealt with heavy patients for many years without problems.
A spokesman for the ambulance service stated that being able to use this new vehicle, it would save embarrasment to the patient by not calling the fire service to remove them from the house.
Has this new ambulance got equipment to remove windows and doors, will it have extra members of staff travelling in it to lift the patient?
As for the patient being embarrased (I can fully understand that), if something unusual is going on at a house, you can be sure no matter who is there,fire, police, ambulance, there will be people wanting to see what is going on.
As my husband and work friends have said may times before, it's about time money was used for more urgent issues, such as better staff training, better vehicles and improved services for the most important factor, the patients.

Totally agree with you!

More money should be spent on the things that are more important.. rather than getting a 45 stone lard arse out of the house.

And think of the time that is being wasted by getting said lardo out of the house- someone else could be dying in that time that needs help.. its not good!

not all people who are (quote 45 stone lard arses ) can help the situation and although it is an expensive item to buy until you have witnessed a friend or relative who through no fault of their own (medical conditions or mental illness )being taken out of their home by ambulance and firecrews then you cannot fully understand the upset and embarrassment caused as all the neighbors etc come out to view the spectacle of fire engines ambulance and possibly police attending ,also if this means a firecrew not being tied up they are free to deal with emegencies ,and if ambulance crews attempt to lift a patient to save the wait or the patients feelings but were then injured obviously theres the chance they could of sick which puts more strain on the service and all involved

When you consider that a 10 year old decent camper van is worth about 20 grand,
I know this because my mate has one.

I don't think that 50 grand is excessive for an ambulance.

My dad is an ambulance man and has been for nearly 30 years. The management do have some pretty stupid ideas but as they are having to carry more and more heavy people I think it's a good idea. My dad was once off work for nearly 6 months because he tried to lift a 30 stone patient and the stretcher broke, resulting in him badly hurting his back. Ambulances are expensive but it won't just be used for heavy people, it will benefit other people. I'd rather have an expensive ambulance then loads of ambulance workers off sick from trying to carry people without the proper equipment.

To my original quote - of 45 stone lard arses.

Sorry, if you get in that state of gaining that much weight I really do feel like you are killing yourself and you are a lost cause.

Why should firemen and ambulance crews struggle with that person- getting them out of a building which takes extra time, when someone else who could easily be manageable be dying down the other end of the road?

Please dont think for one second that I want all 45 stone people dead though- :) because I certainly do not.

Firemen and Ambulance crews have enough on their plate without extra difficulty adding to their plates every day.

Yes, they do have enough on their plates, which is why this ambulance is a good thing as it saves time and makes their lives easier. If someone needs to go to hospital the ambulance service has to take them. Can you imagine the outcry if they refused to carry someone becuase they were fat? Unfortunatly the world is full of people who are obese, whether it's their own fault or not. And they are going to need more medical attention. If they didn't have the proper equipment it would take them a lot longer to get the person into the ambulance and into hospital, and would waste a lot more time which could be spent dealing with someone else. So surely its a good theing, and its not going to be reserved solely for the use of fat people so it will benefit everyone, it will have modern equipment which is desperatly needed.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
To my original quote - of 45 stone lard arses.

Sorry, if you get in that state of gaining that much weight I really do feel like you are killing yourself and you are a lost cause.
Firemen and Ambulance crews have enough on their plate without extra difficulty adding to their plates every day.
If you go down the road of rationing help to people you think that "deserve" it.
Are you going to refuse help to road traffic accidents, smokers and Mountain rescues as well?

I think you have to help everyone equally or nobody at all. Once again to misquote "there by the grace of God go I"

Originally posted by NicolaE
Yes, they do have enough on their plates, which is why this ambulance is a good thing as it saves time and makes their lives easier. If someone needs to go to hospital the ambulance service has to take them. Can you imagine the outcry if they refused to carry someone becuase they were fat? Unfortunatly the world is full of people who are obese, whether it's their own fault or not. And they are going to need more medical attention. If they didn't have the proper equipment it would take them a lot longer to get the person into the ambulance and into hospital, and would waste a lot more time which could be spent dealing with someone else. So surely its a good theing, and its not going to be reserved solely for the use of fat people so it will benefit everyone, it will have modern equipment which is desperatly needed.

Then have a service purely dedicated to those 'bigger' people!

I would be quite ****** off if I found out a member of my family died because an ambulance or fire engine could not get to them in time because they were held up by some lard-arse trapped in a house... thats not on.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
If you go down the road of rationing help to people you think that "deserve" it.
Are you going to refuse help to road traffic accidents, smokers and Mountain rescues as well?

I think you have to help everyone equally or nobody at all. Once again to misquote "there by the grace of God go I"

Same as I said before on the 'police let drug users die' thread- if you smoke or do drugs-- your own choice- your own fault.

But I would not neccessarily stop the help they need if you get my drift- I would class them as a lower priority though sorry :)

Road Traffic Accidents/Mountain Rescues are a higher priorty I would say.

You have to help everyone- but like I said.. there should be a priority system I reckon.

No, it's not dedicated to them. They don't just sit around waiting for a fat person to get ill. And wouldn't you be mad if a member of your family was dying and there were no ambulances becuase they were all treating drug addicts or alcoholics? What if they were delayed becuse someone had tried to commit suicide? Thats why theyve got the ambulance, to save time and make response times quicker.

There is a priority system in terms of who is the most seriously hurt. They ahve cars to give immediate attention to people having heart attacks etc, then the ambulances come if necessary and when theres one available.

I found this in the guardian:

Heavy duty ambulance saves patient dignity

Martin Wainwright
Saturday August 20, 2005
The Guardian


Britain's growing obesity problem has prompted the use of ambulances capable of carrying people who weigh up to 285kg, or 45 stone.
The vehicles also have special stretchers to lift patients with less embarrassment.

One of the first has started work in South Yorkshire, after assessments of local obesity justified the £64,000 cost. The Mercedes ambulance already has 12 patients on its list for hospital journeys. There are estimated to be 1,500 potential users in the county with health problems who weigh more than 120kg.

Similar "bariatric" or seriously overweight cases previously had to travel in the back of a van otherwise used to carry heavy equipment to major incidents. Sometimes, including the transport of a Rotherham man in his 40s, fire brigade equipment has been used for safe lifting.

"It was undignified and caused embarrassment," said Peter Ward, director of operations for South Yorkshire ambulance service. "The general public are getting larger, and not all of it is because people are going to McDonald's."

Some of the most problematic cases, including the Rotherham man, are due to medical conditions that medical staff fear could be worsened by stress over humiliating transport.

Mr Ward added: "The new vehicle doesn't attract attention and the patients appreciate it."

Right, so it isn't generally used for emergencies, its more an outpatient vehicle, transporting patients to and from hospital and home. So it isn't an emergency ambulance JUST for the use of overweight people.

£64 grand I cant understand why they've spent that much.How many operations could this money have been spent on?
Although it is has a crew of 5 and i do like the yellow paint work!!

http://www.vannattabros.com/adospics/kmsutrk.jpg

Originally posted by foxy027
£64 grand I cant understand why they've spent that much.How many operations could this money have been spent on?
Although it is has a crew of 5 and i do like the yellow paint work!!

http://www.vannattabros.com/adospics/kmsutrk.jpg

LMAO! Love it!!
Yep, that will ease the embarassment for the fatties wont it :)
Just slide them on into the dump bit. Just needs a McDonalds logo on the side to top the look nicely for me.

Seriously though-- sorry, again if your 45 stone.. I have little or no simpathy with those people :(
And to say its all medical - absolute load of crap.

NicolaE- its just a glorified taxi for fat people then who cant get to hospital like normal people on a bus or taxi- even more reason for me to find it a waste of cash.

I have to admit that after reading that Guardian quotation, if it would have been simpler and easier to use a Luton van with a tail lift which says "smith's self hire" on the side. If they can deliver pianos without scratching, dropping or upsetting their delecate tempraments, surely they could do the same for a Big fat patient with an appropriate barrow to put them in.

Surely people like that should be housed in groundfloor or ramp accessible accommodation which can take a huge weight and has very wide doors. So It doesn't put ambulance staff at risk of injury trying to convey these people up and down steps or slopes.

Maybe even you could install an expanding "player's tunnel" which can be dragged out to the patients doorway, so the neighbours cannot see, and to save embarrasment.

Originally posted by foxy027
£64 grand I cant understand why they've spent that much.How many operations could this money have been spent on?
Although it is has a crew of 5 and i do like the yellow paint work!!

http://www.vannattabros.com/adospics/kmsutrk.jpg

the least expensive Ambulances on the market cost around 50000 GBP new

that's a 15000+ GBP base vehicle, plus of course the hardware modifications it need to be an ambulance, like the two extra 12v batteries , the 240 V inverter , the air suspension on the rear axle ( for both ride quality at varying loads and for accessibility) , power supply for the winch / trolley lift

then there's the price of turning the bare back body / chassis into an ambulance , either fitting out the van shell or building the box and fittign it out - all with crash stable fixtures and fittings, not screws and hinges from the local DIY barn...

then there's the 8000GBP for the stretcher trolley and the locking system ( bearing in mind this has to exceed the performance standards of your car seatbelt yet be easily removable fro mthe vehicle)

or we could go back to the old days and see the life expectancy of ambulance crew after retirement measured on a clock rather than a calendar, assuming their backs hadn't given out long before retirement

Originally posted by muddycoffee
[B]I have to admit that after reading that Guardian quotation, if it would have been simpler and easier to use a Luton van with a tail lift which says "smith's self hire" on the side. If they can deliver pianos without scratching, dropping or upsetting their delecate tempraments, surely they could do the same for a Big fat patient with an appropriate barrow to put them in.



which you can't clean
needs a method of securing the trolley and a the crew member, equipment ....

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Same as I said before on the 'police let drug users die' thread- if you smoke or do drugs-- your own choice- your own fault.


Presumably if you own a metal fence and unluckily become imapled on it, the same rule applies? Or if you have bought a packet of Maltesers and choke on one, your choice, so tough luck? The NHS is there to help all taxpayers, not just those who the narrow-minded deem socially acceptable.

Anyone know how much a regular ambulance costs? I dare say it's not much less. And with this vehicle at least the fire brigade won't need to be called out.

Come on doesn't everyone have to do 'undignified' things that add to the stresses of modern life; so why should this particular sub-sector of society be given special treatment?

Ah yes because it would lead to someone being 'discriminated' against by being winched out of their house like a skip... and another lawsuit for the poor old NHS...

Bring on the 50k ambulances then...

I cant belive that there are so many people on here with such selfish horrid opinions.

The NHS was set up for everybody in this country not just the slim people.

I f we go down the route of not looking after every one what is next?

Will it be no tall people because their toes stick off the end of the trolleys or no thin people incase the straps wont hold them down tight enough.

All these thin, good looking, perfect people who have critised the over weight on this thread better watch out. One day the NHS might refuse to take you incase the Paramedic is dazzled by your good looks and perfection.

I'll bet you'll not whinge if they have to get a ambulance for the perfect people, will you.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
LMAO! Love it!!
Yep, that will ease the embarassment for the fatties wont it :)
Just slide them on into the dump bit. Just needs a McDonalds logo on the side to top the look nicely for me.

Seriously though-- sorry, again if your 45 stone.. I have little or no simpathy with those people :(
And to say its all medical - absolute load of crap.

NicolaE- its just a glorified taxi for fat people then who cant get to hospital like normal people on a bus or taxi- even more reason for me to find it a waste of cash.

fat people pay tax & ni that pays for the NHS, they have little or no claim on it during their life as a non fatty so why shouldb't they be allowed to use it. being fat may not be the reason they need an ambulance or hospital treatment.
IMO it's not self abuse so why the problem.
in general people are getting taller & heavier so p'haps they may just be forward thinking.

Originally posted by hj dary
I cant belive that there are so many people on here with such selfish horrid opinions.

The NHS was set up for everybody in this country not just the slim people.

I f we go down the route of not looking after every one what is next?

Will it be no tall people because their toes stick off the end of the trolleys or no thin people incase the straps wont hold them down tight enough.

All these thin, good looking, perfect people who have critised the over weight on this thread better watch out. One day the NHS might refuse to take you incase the Paramedic is dazzled by your good looks and perfection.

I'll bet you'll not whinge if they have to get a ambulance for the perfect people, will you.

Was just about to write a scathing reply, and you pretty much covered everything I was going to say. I agree with you 100%!

My girlfriend is a management accountant for the NHS, some people in care cost upto £900 per day she tells me.

£50,000 is a splash in the ocean folks!

Do we need an air ambulance?

Do we need ambulanves at all?

Start asking some real questions people :help:

Originally posted by ANGELUS
Then have a service purely dedicated to those 'bigger' people!

I would be quite ****** off if I found out a member of my family died because an ambulance or fire engine could not get to them in time because they were held up by some lard-arse trapped in a house... thats not on.

You really should have a word with yourself ;)

Originally posted by NicolaE
Right, so it isn't generally used for emergencies, its more an outpatient vehicle, transporting patients to and from hospital and home. So it isn't an emergency ambulance JUST for the use of overweight people.

it doesnt state that it is only for transporting , it states they have a number of patients already on the list - ie they would use its service instead of a normal ambulance for hospital visits.

I really can't believe some of the comments on this thread!

Is a £50k ambulance necessary? Obviously it is. Ambulances, like fire-engines are specialist vehicles and are expensive compared to your average car.

If someone needs an ambulance, they need an ambulance, the fact that some people are heavier than others should not negate their rights to expect medical help.

That an ambulance has been built to specifically cater for peope of a heavier weight is a bonus and well done to who ever decided to stick their neck out and be one of the first in the country to purchase one.

Blimey, some of you folk on here ought to get out a bit more and see the real world.

Originally posted by ANGELUS
To my original quote - of 45 stone lard arses.

Sorry, if you get in that state of gaining that much weight I really do feel like you are killing yourself and you are a lost cause.

Why should firemen and ambulance crews struggle with that person- getting them out of a building which takes extra time, when someone else who could easily be manageable be dying down the other end of the road?

Please dont think for one second that I want all 45 stone people dead though- :) because I certainly do not.

Firemen and Ambulance crews have enough on their plate without extra difficulty adding to their plates every day.



Which is precisely WHY they've bought this ambulance :rolleyes: hardly rocket science is it :D

I do feel Angelus is just trying to get a rise out of people, shame on you Angelus.

Especially if one replaces the word 'fat or fatty or lard ass' with similar words like black, asian or gay, (or the equivallent offensive version) - that's how unreasonably offensive Angelus is coming over.

Sadly he's doing himself (herself?) no favours.

Dipschit :rolleyes:

Originally posted by samcoo
Anyone seen the £50.000 pound ambulance that has been added to the South Yorkshire Ambulance fleet?
It is designed to carry heavy patients up to 45 stone.

it's about time money was used for more urgent issues, such as better staff training, better vehicles and improved services for the most important factor, the patients.

So you think money should be spent on "better vehicles". Isn't this new ambulance exactly that - a better vehicle?

And you think money should be spent on "the most important factor, the patients". But isn't this new ambulance being purhased for exactly that - "the patients"?

So, what's your real beef? :suspect: