THE increasing number of obese people has forced an ambulance service into buying bigger ambulances.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust is replacing its fleet of ambulances with bigger vehicles which can accommodate trolleys for "supersize" casualties.

The new Mercedes Sprinters will cost around £20,000 more than the present Vauxhall Movano ambulances, will help to reduce the number of injuries to ambulance staff and to patients themselves, said the Trust.

Since April 22 ambulance staff were injured while moving patients.

There is currently one of the new type Mercedes ambulances in Christchurch and one due to be delivered in Bournemouth very soon. Bournemouth and Christchurch is covered by eight front-line ambulances not including response cars.

Manager Bill Lynch said: "It's in response to the increasing weight of patients and our increased focus on manual handling and safety for ambulance staff in response to the high level of sickness due to back and muscular injuries.

"The latest vehicles we have taken delivery of have the capability to carry an especially designed stretcher trolley for larger than normal patients."

The new stretcher trolleys are called Megasus which are a modification of Pegasus which convey average sized patients, he explained.

"They are longer and wider and heavy duty. The plan is to have every vehicle with the capability to take these trolleys."

The new ambulances will all be fitted with ramps and hydraulic stretcher lifts which will make lifting less difficult, he added.

The modern sedentary lifestyle and the large number of people working in office-based IT type jobs may be the reason for the increasing weight of patients.

This leads to an increase in call outs for weight-related health issues, added Mr Lynch.

"It's usually what we call acopia'. They are unable to cope or they fall to the floor and can't get up or they have an illness which is related to obesity like breathing problems, strokes, heart attacks and mobility-related problems."