Council trading standards chiefs are launching a nationwide project to identify inaccurate hospital weighing scales that could be putting patients’ lives at risk. The new scheme follows a series of pilot studies which found hospital staff using inaccurate scales to calculate dosages of medication for patients, including small children.
Other problems uncovered by officers included weighing equipment going missing and hospital staff not having access to the correct scales for specific tasks. As a result of these pilot studies LACORS, the national coordinating body for council trading standards services, has set up the National Medical Weighing Project, which will run for one year starting in April 2008. Council trading standards officers will inspect all hospital weighing equipment and make sure it is accurate, legal and fit for purpose.
Particular target areas will be oncology and paediatrics departments.
