Ambulance crews praised

A man who has lost over 10 stone in weight in the last seven months has personally thanked the Suffolk ambulance crew who have been providing him with specialist assistance to Addenbrookes Hospital.

Adrian Webb, 35, has been regularly using a bariatric-capable vehicle designed and manned by St John Ambulance Suffolk to get him to routine medical appointments concerning his weight.

The vehicle is one of three operated by St John Ambulance Suffolk which is able to carry particularly large patients. It ensures such individuals receive a dignified method of transport to and from their home.

Adrian was placed on a special liquid diet in June last year, at the weight of 44.09 stones. Since that time he has required frequent transportation which could not have been delivered by a normal NHS ambulance.

St John Ambulance were tasked to assist with his requirements and Adrian, who lives in Colchester, has now taken his last journey with the crew as a bariatric patient. Now at the weight of 33.7 stones, he is able to begin using a more widely available vehicle for his hospital visits.

'Just seven months ago I was unable to move anything more than a very short distance under my own steam and it would have been impossible for me to use public transport,' he said.

'Now I find myself more than 10 stone lighter and am approaching the point where using public transport to attend my appointments is something I will be able to manage. Without the help of St John Ambulance getting me to Addenbrookes so many times in the last few months everything would have been far more difficult'.'

Keith Hotchkiss, Operations Manager for St John Ambulance Suffolk, said: 'We frequently get calls to assist the East of England NHS Trust when it comes to the transportation of particularly obese patients. This might be for a one-off requirement, or, as in Adrian's case, for routine hospital visits.'

He added: 'We are delighted Adrian has made such great progress and that in that time our crews have been responsible for ensuring he has received a more dignified method of transport than might otherwise have been possible without a bariatric vehicle.'

St John Ambulance has also invested in other bariatric-specific equipment to assist in attending patients like Adrian. This equipment includes a wheelchair capable of taking a patient of 298kg, a lifting device, and a specialist stretcher.