Westhouse Medical Services' AST Ambulance Team to Feature in Six Part Channel 5 Documentary Series

LONDON, February 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Starting on 22^nd February `Big Body Squad` examines cases of morbid obesity and the challenges faced during specialist bariatric patient transfer

Healthcare specialist Westhouse Medical Services announces that AST Ambulance Service, part of its medical services division, will appear in a six-part Channel 5 documentary examining the growth in morbid obestity in the UK and the challenges of bariatric patient transfer. `Big Body Squad` begins transmission on 22^nd February features the patients and ambulance crews involved in the highly-skilled and specialised medical transport of severely obese patients.

The Channel 5 camera crew follow AST Ambulance Service (AST) specialist staff on actual bariatric transfer operations, which include the task of moving - at 75 stones in weight - the UK's largest man to hospital and back. In-depth interviews with staff and patients provide thought provoking perspectives on the complex and difficult procedures required to move bariatric patients.

AST director of operations, Stewart Lawson, says of the documentary: "The series will help display the reality of life for morbidly obese patients, as well as the importance of consistent, high, quality care. WE aim to deliver safe, respectful and dignified patient transfer and achieve this by investing both in specialist equipment and intensive training for our staff, for instance using a full-scale mock-up of a house interior to perfect the advanced techniques involved in moving such large patients."

Currently, there are almost a million morbidly obese people in England, more than double the number in 2000. By 2020, it is predicted that more than a third of England's population will be obese. Lawson concludes: "With such a rapid increase in the numbers of morbidly obese patients, demand for specialist patient transfers as part of their care is only going to rise, making it a highly important, topical issue for Channel 5 to highlight."

With 17-years operational experience AST provides specialist expertise patient transfer services across the UK and mainland Europe, including high dependency and bariatric care, and is one of only five companies ever to be accredited by the London Ambulance Service.

About Westhouse Medical Services

Westhouse Medical Services consists of two divisions - devices and services (including AST Ambulances) - and is a specialist company creating value for patients, providers and investors through delivering step changes in the effectiveness and quality of primary healthcare delivery. The company listed on the Open Standard Section of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in late October 2011.

If you would like to interview one of the AST specialist crew members filmed as part of this Channel 5 series, or for further information, please contact:

Jo Lee / Sian Edwards / George Baggaley
Chameleon PR
Email: westhouse@chameleonpr.com
Ph: +44(0)207-680-5500

Channel 5 contacts:
Julie Miller
Julie.Miller@five.tv
Ph: +44(0)208-612-7751