UK Dentists Forced To Invest In New Chairs To Accommodate Obese Patients
A growing number of UK dentists are investing in new dental chairs to cope with Britain’s obesity crisis.
Figures show that sales of Barico bariatric chairs, which accommodate patients weighing up to 71 stone, are increasing year on year, as obesity rates increase in the UK. Standard chairs can usually only support between 22 and 35 stone.
Experts are worried about the cost implications of obesity, with healthcare costs increasing every year and health services forced to invest in new equipment to provide care for obese patients. A spokesman for the British Dental Association said that dentists are aware of the increasingly serious situation with regard to obesity rates and more and more dentists are buying new dental chairs to care for obese dental patients.
A spokesman for the BDA said that the cost implications of buying new equipment alone will “have a very serious impact on resources.”
Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said that it was no surprise to hear that UK dentists are buying bariatric dental chairs; airlines, hospitals and ambulances have all installed wider chairs and beds already and with the obesity crisis likely to affect at least one more generation, even if drastic policies and measures are introduced, the chairs will be needed by a large number of people.
David Vandyke, from Bariatric Ltd, said that demand for bariatric equipment has soared and the NHS is being forced to invest in new equipment, as obesity is mentioned in the Equality Act, which means that obese people have the same right to care as people who are a healthy weight.
Experts have warned that the cost of obesity to the NHS could double to £10 billion per year by the year 2050.
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