WIREDGOV

National metrology (Weights & Measures) project work by Trading Standards Officers in Scotland testing medical weighing equipment in GP practices across Scotland has found that more than 55% of all scales did not meet minimum accuracy class levels set by the NHS themselves.

During the project, aimed at assessing the suitability, accuracy and overall compliance of scales used by GP practices to weigh their patients, officers visited 169 GP practices across 11 health boards, inspecting 1496 sets of patient weighing scales, assessing compliance with the Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 and NHS requirements. Although the vast majority of scales were accurate, 18% had errors in excess of those permitted by the Regulations. The largest error found was a reading of 49kg when 100kg of weight was applied, giving an error of -51kg. To put this into context, the Regulations require a maximum error of only 2kg at this point and so these scales had an error of more than 25 times that permitted by law.

It is important that both patients and healthcare professionals have confidence in the accuracy of all medical equipment used for monitoring, treatment and diagnosis. Trading Standards is ideally placed to ensure that patient weighing scales are legal, suitable and accurate for use.
Working closely with our partners in NHS Scotland a series of recommendations have been accepted and will be working towards implementing these to ensure the safety of all patients.

More can be found on the SCOTSS website, details below in notes.

Chris Bell, Chair of SCOTSS commented: “This national project work across Scotland illustrates the breadth of trading standards duties, and the importance that weights and measures has across our country, not only for goods and the economy, but also for the potential impact on health. “

He continued:

“We are pleased that NHS colleagues have swiftly taken the necessary corrective action and reinforced systems to ensure patient weighing is accurate and carried out with the appropriate equipment.”

Dr Sharon Hilton-Christie, Executive Medical Director, Public Services Delivery Scotland, said: “We welcome the work by Trading Standards in highlighting these issues. In response, the Incident Reporting and Investigation Centre (IRIC), part of NHS Scotland Assure, has reviewed its previously published alert on medical weighing equipment and is issuing an updated Safety Action Notice. This will highlight the relevant standards and set out clear actions for healthcare providers.

These requirements are set to make sure equipment is accurate and suitable for healthcare use. So far, IRIC has not received any reports of patient harm linked to inaccurate or inappropriate weighing equipment.”

Notes for Editors:

For press queries and further details on this work, email Ken Daly, SCOTSS Coordinator at coordinator@scotss.org.uk or call 07720538349

1. The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) represents the 31 local authority Trading Standards services in Scotland. SCOTSS was established in 1996 and helps support and coordinate the activities of Scotland local authority trading standards teams. It is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SC047951 and works closely with other governmental and regulatory organisations, such as the Competition and Markets Authority, the Office of Product Safety and Standards, Trading Standards Scotland, and the Scottish Government.
2. Trading Standards Officers in Scottish councils advise on and enforce laws that govern the way we buy, sell, rent and hire goods and services. Local authorities carry out inspections and monitor or investigate complaints, they work with businesses to help achieve compliance but ultimately, can instigate prosecutions or take civil actions against those who break the law.
3. Weights and Measures is the oldest form of consumer protection and regulates the way that almost all goods are weighed and measured. The metrological system not only ensures that consumers get what they pay for but also that businesses are able to trade on a level market-place, not only within the UK but internationally.
4. The Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 apply to weighing instruments used in the determination of mass in the practice of medicine for weighing patients for the purposes of monitoring, diagnosis and medical treatment.
5. In all instances where non-compliance was identified advice has been provided to GP practices. Where the degree of non-compliance was sufficiently high then enforcement action was carried out including the disqualification of weighing instruments.
6. The full report can be found on the SCOTSS website here.