AN ambulance trust has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to reinforce vehicles to cope with a growing number of obese patients.

South East Coast Ambulance Service has brought in three specially adapted ambulances since 2010 at a cost of £562,000.

It has also fitted other vehicles with lifts and large stretchers which has cost a further £36,000.

The three ambulances have been used 1,700 times in the last five years.

The College of Paramedics says investment is crucial across the country for both patients and staff.

It points out the retirement age for paramedics and ambulance service staff is now 67.

It can be hard work carrying particularly heavy patients up and down stairs at an older age.

Former Secamb ambulance technician Rob Shaw said he had to deal with patients weighing more than 30 stone.

NHS obesity statistics reveal nearly 60 per cent of women and 70 per cent of men are overweight.

A third of children aged two to 15 are also overweight or obese, which has led to a government action plan to tackle the issue.

A South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) spokesperson said: “Across our region we treat variety of patients, many of whom are managing long term and complex heath needs.

“We have a duty to ensure we have the resources required to respond to the needs of all our patients including those who are overweight.

“We will continue to monitor the changing health care requirements of all our patients so that our clinicians are best placed to provide them with the treatment they require.”