THE county council says it spent �23,000 last year on buying equipment for six patients classed as obese.

Care costs for the six – whose weight ranges from 28 to 50 stone each- amounted to a further �42,750 said the council.

The figures are contained within a Freedom of Information request provided in response to questioning about obese patients.

The questioner wanted to know how many in Cambridgeshire are “classified ‘housebound’ or have their mobility severely impaired and require care workers to assist them with basic hygiene duties.”

A council spokesman said their adult social care team issued bariatric equipment, including bariatric beds, to six patients classed as ‘housebound’.

“Two of these service users also have packages of social care support,” said the spokesman.

However the county council refused to give the respect weight of each patient but admitted the weight range for bariatric beds is between 28-50 stone.