Hospitals, GP practices and nursing homes have been told to check their weighing scales following reports that defective ones are being used.
The Department of Health has issued the advice following several instances of inaccurate scales being used in the NHS. There are concerns that the wrong dosages of medication could be administered to patients weighed on the faulty scales.
Last month, trading standards officers began the National Medical Weighing Project after initial visits to hospitals found many scales were inaccurate.
They also found equipment was missing and staff did not have access to the right scales for specific tasks.
In February there was a near miss when faulty scales were used to weigh a four-year-old cancer patient to calculate her radiation dosage. Fortunately the error was noticed before the dose was administered.
The Department of Health has directed that all scales used to calculate patient medications must be checked before mid June. Any domestic weighing scales which are being used must also be removed and replaced by medical scales.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Patient safety and appropriate clinical care is of the utmost importance.
"We take this issue very seriously and have issued an alert and guidance to all NHS trusts on the proper use of weighing scale equipment.
"We expect clinicians to follow this guidance, use the right equipment and not compromise patient safety."
The Department of Health has issued the advice following several instances of inaccurate scales being used in the NHS. There are concerns that the wrong dosages of medication could be administered to patients weighed on the faulty scales.
Last month, trading standards officers began the National Medical Weighing Project after initial visits to hospitals found many scales were inaccurate.
They also found equipment was missing and staff did not have access to the right scales for specific tasks.
In February there was a near miss when faulty scales were used to weigh a four-year-old cancer patient to calculate her radiation dosage. Fortunately the error was noticed before the dose was administered.
The Department of Health has directed that all scales used to calculate patient medications must be checked before mid June. Any domestic weighing scales which are being used must also be removed and replaced by medical scales.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Patient safety and appropriate clinical care is of the utmost importance.
"We take this issue very seriously and have issued an alert and guidance to all NHS trusts on the proper use of weighing scale equipment.
"We expect clinicians to follow this guidance, use the right equipment and not compromise patient safety."
