Scotland's health boards have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds buying super-strong beds that can cope with the nation's expanding waistline and growing obesity problem.
New figures show that the beds - some of which are capable of holding patients weighing 72 stone or almost half a ton - are now in place in Scotland's hospitals to cope with massively overweight patients.
NHS bosses say the massive outlay, revealed under Freedom of Information legislation, has been necessary to deal with Scotland's ever expanding weight problem.
In all, NHS boards have bought 871 beds capable of dealing with obese patients. One health board has gone as far as replacing its entire fleet beds with stronger models.
Bariatic beds are generally built with a reinforced frame, a larger sleeping platform and enough clearance around them for other equipment, such as hoists, to be used.
Health boards were asked to reveal how many beds suitable for obese patients they owned now compared to five years ago, and how much they had paid out over that period.
Stronger
NHS Borders spent £348,844 purchasing beds, including £27,200 on beds that can carry up to 42 stone in weight, while NHS Grampian spent £77,776 on 12 new stronger beds.
NHS Shetland spent £13,170 on three new bariatric beds - but said that "as patients increase in size we will probably have to purchase more."
The highest outlay was from NHS Lanarkshire. It spent £1,104,500 on a major bed replacement programme between 2007 and 2009 to modernise their beds across their hospitals.
While the health board does not have specific "bariatric beds" - those specifically designed for massively obese patients - they purchased 170 beds that can deal with patients weighing up to 28 stone. They also brought in 650 that can handle patients up to 39 stone and four for patients weighing up to an enormous 72 stone.
Dr David Haslam, of the National Obesity Forum, said the investment was welcome - but could be better focused on helping improve the health and lifestyles of obese people.
He said: "I welcome the increase in bariatric beds and equipment, as it is bad practice, insulting and demoralising for obese individuals for hospitals not to have beds big enough, and doors wide enough to accommodate them.
"However it would be a better use of Health Service money if there was an increase in bariatric surgery beds - that is beds big enough for patients about to undergo life-saving bariatric surgery, which could cure their diabetes, and transform their health and productivity."
Fattest nation
Scotland's health services face a £175m-a-year bill every year for treating problems linked to obesity, such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Scotland is the second fattest nation in the world - behind the US - and obesity claims an average of nine lives every day.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The NHS is currently spending over £175m every year treating obese people. In today’s economy every penny counts and this money could make a vital difference to other areas of the health service.
"Initiatives are already under way to help prevent obesity but we need to do much more to tackle this problem.
"The solution lies in changing our entire environment from one that promotes weight gain to one that supports healthy choices. We plan to work across all areas of Government to ensure that policies are directed at supporting people to achieve and then maintain a healthy weight."
NHS Lanarkshire said its fleet of new beds had been brought in to serve patients "with a range of conditions", meaning all their beds can be used even by the heaviest people.
A spokesman for the health board said: "NHS Lanarkshire embarked on a replacement programme between 2007 and 2009 to improve and modernise our beds at a cost in the region of £940,000 + VAT.
"We do not have beds specifically for bariatric patients. These beds are for patients with a range of conditions and not exclusively for overweight patients."
TOTAL SPEND ON BARIATRIC BEDS IN LAST FIVE YEARS BY HEALTH BOARD:
NHS Ayrshire and Arran - £49,716.59
NHS Borders - £348,844
NHS Dumfries and Galloway - £20,638
NHS Fife - £28,400
NHS Forth Valley - £94,713
NHS Grampian - £77,776
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - Did not provide information
NHS Highland - £0
NHS Lanarkshire - £1,104,500.00 *
NHS Lothian - £75,034.64
NHS Orkney - £8,223.83
NHS Shetland - £13,170
NHS Tayside - £6,056.44
NHS Western Isles - £19,387.50
Total - £1,846,460
* NHS Lanarkshire does not have specific "bariatric" beds - but spent the cash on a major replacement programme for all it's beds.
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