A HOSPITAL has brought in supersize beds to accommodate morbidly obese patients weighing up to 50 stone.

Sunderland Royal Hospital is hiring about £300,000-worth of special beds, including four for the morbidly obese and 152 to cater for heavier-than-normal patients.

The hospital has already brought in bigger commodes, comfy chairs and theatre tables that can take the weight of a 70-stone patient.

The beds are part of a scheme to replace 852 of the hospital's 919 ageing bed stock, which should also help in the fight against superbugs such as MRSA.

City Hospitals Sunderland medical director Les Boobis said: "There is an obesity epidemic.

"A significant number of patients are now heavier than perhaps they were 20 years ago.

"So we require beds that are better designed for their needs."

Sunderland features near the top of the UK obesity league table of cities, with almost a quarter of adults - about 50,000 - labelled obese.

In February public health bosses launched a £1m scheme to tackle Wearside's obesity time bomb, including free slimming classes, more surgery for weight problems, and experts providing fitness advice and support at the new Aquatic Centre.

To cater for bigger patients, who are more susceptible to further health problems such as heart disease and diabetes, Sunderland Royal has already brought in bigger commodes and comfy chairs, and has theatre tables with a safe working load of 450kgs - more than 70 stones.

Hospital bosses are also getting an extra equipment washing machine, built in the United States, to cater for its bigger new beds.

This month North East Ambulance Service introduced two specialist vehicle for overweight casualties, which have a wheelchair capable of carrying 50stones, a hydraulic lift, slings and a blow-up mattress.

"People who are morbidly obese are handicapped by having to make do with equipment designed for normal weight people," said Mr Boobis.

"It in illness, and not just something where you can say 'go away and sort yourself out.' "As caring people we need to make provision for them, then they are more motivated to address the problem."

As well as due to the changing shape of the population, the Royal is revamping its bed stock because of changes in nursing practices.

Four will have a safe working load of 317.5kgs, ten will be baby cots, 40 will be high-low beds designed for elderly people who are prone to falling, and 656 will be electronic beds which can be moved according to need.

The new stock would have cost £1.7million to buy, but is being leased at £250,000 a year.

They are all due to be in place by June, along with new mattresses and intravenous drip poles.

"We feel it will improve patient safety and comfort," said Mr Boobis.

He also said that some hospitals which have undergone major bed replacement programmes have seen a reduction in infections.

He added: "Maintaining the level of cleanliness by putting in the equipment and washing system hopefully will keep the benefit of having new beds in."