AST Ambulance Service

We recognised the need for a specially commissioned Bariatric Ambulance Service in August of 2007, as it was obvious to us that this category of patients were not receiving the care they needed.

The investment that AST has made in this particular service area has seen us become the countries leading provider of Bariatric Services to both the NHS & Private sectors. We have put together a purpose built fleet of Ambulances & Support Vehicles that ensure every box is ticked when it comes to the comfort and safety of both patients and staff alike.

The Challenges:

• Peoples attitudes to bariatric patients
• Ambulances not designed to transporting bariatric patients
• Standard ambulance equipment not capable of carrying the required capacity
• Standard ambulance equipment not being big enough to provide safe comfortable transport
• Staff not trained to deal with the complex challenges presented
• Receiving environments not equipped to deal with the patient

The Solution:

• Purpose built ambulances for the transport of bariatric patients
• Purpose built support vehicles for the service
• Specialist equipment for the handling and transport of bariatric patients
• Staff intensively trained to deal with the complex needs of patients in an appropriate way
• Links with the UK 's leading suppliers of bariatric equipment in pre hospital, community and hospital settings. Allowing us to provide equipment into the receiving environment

Every Ambulance in our specialist fleet carries either a Ferno Megasus, Megasus II or Harrier XL stretcher allowing us to safely transport patients in excess of 450KG (70 stone). In addition to the Bariatric Stretchers, our Ambulances and Support Vehicles carry the following equipment allowing us to deal with every situation presented to us.

Communication is key to any successful patient move, so we always complete a full risk assessment prior to planned trips. This ensures everyone involved is fully prepared for their role in the patient move. We know that this kind of work relies on a number of people & organisations working together to achieve a successful outcome. To this end we have developed special working relationships with:

• Hill Rom
• Westmeria Health Care
• First Call Bariatrics
• Huntleigh Health Care

Richard Haynes, who heads up AST's Bariatric Team said;

"Our service has been designed around two principles, firstly the safe, comfortable and dignified transport of this specialist group of patients. The second is the safety of our staff in carrying out these often challenging duties. This has been achieved by considerable investment in specialist and often ground breaking equipment, not to mention intensive staff training. Many of our patients have commented how comforting it is to be treated with respect and compassion for a change."

Equipment includes

• C-Max U2 Stair Climbers
• A variety of bariatric wheelchairs
• Spinal Boards
• Lifting Sheets
• Slide Sheets
• Winch's
• Ramp Systems
• Patient lifting Equipment
• Defibrillators
• Suction Units