NHS Innovations in Health: Advances in Bariatric Care

A bariatric person is someone who has additional health and care requirements due to their physical size. More than 8 million people in Britain -- nearly a quarter of the adult population -- are classified as clinically obese.
With childhood obesity levels also rising, the needs of bariatric patients and are increasingly important. Design is a critical tool in the care of and the improved long-term clinical outcomes for bariatric people; success mandates a three-prong approach to the design process:
1. appropriate facilities and space
2. proper equipment and furnishings,
3. and training and standardized care protocols.
Together, these components ensure the ability of a health care provider to adequately care for all bariatric people with equality and dignity.
The increase in bariatric patients is resulting in an increased development and availability of bariatric equipment. Whenever possible, medical facilities should choose mechanized powered devices for bariatric people.
It is important that healthcare providers work with equipment designers to assure that specialized bariatric equipment fits through standard-sized doorways and into elevators. When planning for bariatric patients, whether in long-term care or acute care settings, caregivers will need to have access to appropriate weight-rated and sized equipment.
In this programme we hear from Benmor Medical, one of the first companies in the UK to focus exclusively on the bariatric market, Supporting Bariatric Care for over 14 years.