Wakki News The weird is fun
The decision by a dentist’s surgery to ban people that are above 20 stone from sitting on its specialist chairs has caused public outrage. The dentist’s surgery has been condemned for fat-shaming its patients.
The information which the surgery put out to alert obese people about this reads;
“Due to health and safety regulations, we will unfortunately not be able to treat patients that exceed the safety weight limit restrictions for our dental chairs of 127kg [20 stones].
“Due to health and safety regulations, we will unfortunately not be able to treat patients that exceed the safety weight limit restrictions for our dental chairs of 127kg [20 stones].
“We appreciate and understand that this is a sensitive issue and want to address this with our patients in a delicate manner, but we do have a duty of care to all our patients and a legal obligation under the health and safety at work act 1974 to operate in a safe environment and not exceed equipment capabilities.
“If you feel this restriction may apply to you, please call…before your next appointment.
“We will discuss with you your referral options for your future care in full confidentiality. We will endeavour to ensure that your care continues uninterrupted.”
Reports say technicians have had to come in twice in the past to mend damage to the chairs from heavy pressure, forcing the practice to close.
According to the Mail, staff have had to step in to help overweight patients in and out of the chair in the past.
Speaking to the paper Practice manager Tracey Stephens, 55, said that the surgery had been forced into action by an increase in the number of overweight patients.
“It is getting to that stage where we are seeing more and more overweight patients and we’ve had the chair break twice.
“We’re getting occasions where staff are having to help patients in and out of the chair which is a health and safety issue as well.
“We don’t want to discriminate against anybody and we know it is really difficult and sensitive.”
She added that the chairs were “really quite expensive” hardware and that technician callouts can cost hundreds of pounds per visit.
One customer has since said that the policy “body shames” people struggling with their weight.
They said: “This is fattest to people who can’t keep their weight down. I’m shocked, I couldn’t believe the email when I got it.
“It is an absolute disgrace. It body shames people who may have underlying health conditions.
“With pressures already on the health service and difficulties in [finding] a dentist, this only makes the problem worse.”
(With reports from Daily Star)
