NHS spending on specialist ambulances and equipment for obese patients has more than doubled in a year, new figures reveal.

Data released under Freedom of Information laws show the NHS spent £20.7 million on bariatric ambulances and related equipment since 2020 – including stretchers, lifting chairs and reinforced ramps designed to transport and treat heavier patients safely.

Overall, NHS ambulance trusts across the UK spent a combined £4.98 million in 2024 alone, the highest figure in the five-year period.

The findings also show a 123 per cent rise in spending between 2023 and 2024, reflecting the sharp increase in demand for vehicles and equipment adapted for people with obesity or severe mobility issues.

The research, obtained by online pharmacy Chemist4U, reveals there have been at least 157,240 emergency call-outs since 2020 where a bariatric ambulance or equipment was required, though the true number is likely to be higher as several trusts use bariatric-equipped vehicles for all emergency responses.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said:

“Like all ambulance trusts, West Midlands Ambulance Service has a specialist bariatric capability for those patients that require it. All of our emergency ambulances are bariatric capable, but in addition we have vehicles fitted with specialist stretchers and lifting and handling kit over and above that carried on our standard fleet.”

According to government estimates, obesity will cost the NHS £11.4 billion in 2025 – almost double the £6.5 billion estimated in 2023. The condition is linked to a wide range of health problems including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers.

Public Health England data show that two-thirds of adults in England are now classed as overweight or obese. In 2023, one in five children starting primary school was obese or overweight, rising to one in three by Year 6. These rates have remained high since the pandemic, with poorer areas recording the greatest increases.

A 2024 NHS England report warned that rising obesity among children could lead to record numbers of teenagers requiring treatment for type 2 diabetes and musculoskeletal problems within the next decade.

Chemist4U’s Head of Pharmacy, Jason Murphy, said the new data showed the scale of the challenge facing ambulance services and the wider NHS.

“The increase in spending on bariatric ambulances and equipment highlights the growing impact of obesity and weight-related health issues across the UK.

“Reducing the number of obese people will not only cut spending on specialist equipment but also on treating diseases linked to obesity, including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.”