Bariatric Partnership
The Bariatric Partnership is an agreement between Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue (LFR) and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS).
The partnership is an agreement to ensure efficient and effective co-operation when dealing with bariatric people living at home. This will enable partners to better meet the needs of the bariatric person should situations occur where these services need to provide assistance.
This may take the form of:
- Emergency evacuation from the home
- Falls management
- Movement and handling of patients
- Fire within the home
- Home Fire Safety Check
Information sharing enables partners to better meet the needs of bariatric persons to live more safely within their own homes, and allows partners to formulate appropriate moving and handling, evacuation and transportation plans.
The agreement has been operating since June 2011 and reduces delay in appropriate mobilisation being provided in the event of a fire or when assistance is required. Additionally persons are given the opportunity for a home fire safety check (HFSC) to be undertaken. Each HFSC includes a review of alarms, escape routes and fire risks in the home. This will ensure people are aware of fire safety issues and the importance of preventing fires when escape may be restricted.
This partnership allies to our service plan Objective 5, ‘Reduce Deaths and Injuries from Fires’.
LFR will work jointly with EMAS in performing home visits and risk assessments where required in relation to emergency evacuation from the home and falls management.
We also endeavour to provide, dependent on the availability of the team, an immediate response, using the Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), to incidents requiring the immediate removal of a patient from their home.
Additionally in an emergency situation and where resources allow, we aim to provide assistance to EMAS for the movement and handling of patients, including the management of falls.
Both partners share only data appropriate to their needs, and with the consent of the patient.
The anticipated outcome of this partnership will be to enable bariatric patients to receive appropriate advice and assistance to enable them to live safely in their own homes.
This partnership will provide value for money by increasing referrals to those individuals who may be at risk and thereby releasing pressure and resources from the NHS and other associated organisations.
