Thus we have the unacceptable situation where two measurement systems are often used for labelling products and for height and width restriction signs and two measurement systems are often used in the same newspaper articles, even to measure the same physical quantity. You only have to see the random mix-and-match approach to measurements in the Highway Code to see what a mess we are in.

“Briefly, an official report found that, despite previous warnings, 30% of NHS hospitals were still using scales that are switchable between metric and imperial, and 10% were actually being used in imperial mode.”

If you read the report, you will see that the percentage of “dual” weighing machines in use decreased from around 40% to under 30% between 2008 & 2009.

The report also makes clear (which the summary above does not) that the figure of “10% imperial” refers to 10% of the 30% of dual scales.

In other words, the figures could be presented as

70% metric only
27% dual (but indicating metric)
3% dual (but indicating imperial only)
0% imperial only

I would agree that this is not perfect, but it is a huge improvement since medical weighing equipment was firstly prescribed in 2003 and the year-on-year improvements can be seen over the 2 surveys undertaken in 2008 & 2009. [So that's alright, then? - Editor]

Finally, I would point out the latest advice on metric-only equipment can be found at
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_114048.pdf

It includes the following advice

“From now on, scales purchased for medical purposes should only be capable of metric display. There should be no capacity for switching or dual readouts. Trusts should be aware of the pitfalls of using switchable scales and may wish to consider replacing them or having the switches removed”

[Better late than never - but it is odd that anybody should seek to defend the dilatoriness of the NHS in removing the obvious source of a possibly disastrous accident (as pointed out by Lord Walton in the videoclip). Happily, the Minister was not so complacent in her response. In fact, the "alert" referred to also goes on to say:
"Healthcare providers should ... draw up an action plan to address the recommendations of the (LACORS) report by the 30th July 2010... To comply with the action ... there will need to be in place a prioritised action plan with realistic timescales for replacing equipment. A maximum period of 12 months to replace equipment is considered a reasonable timescale." - Editor]

Come on political establishment, get it sorted out, and quickly!

Sadly the NHS website is full of references to calories, for example:
‘How many calories do I need a day?’
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1126.aspx?CategoryID=51&SubCategoryID=165

In January 2009, Barry Bolton, Head of editorial production, NHS Choices, wrote:
“For the time being we will be sticking to “calories” as our primary food energy unit because it is one of which most of our users have some understanding.
We are, however, considering introducing a short explanation of
kilojoules/calories on appropriate pages in an effort to foster greater
understanding of the SI unit.”

Now it’s time for the NHS to phase out the Calorie/calorie/kilocalorie. NHS Dieticians and Nutritionists should play their part in “Shedding Calories” and use only SI units.

And all gym machines in hospitals should also show SI units.

Just for clarification, the Irish changeover to metric road signs was not the result of a voluntary process following a liberal change in law allowing metric as well as imperial.

Distance signs were changed gradually using normal replacement to reduce cost. Speed limit signs were changed instantly (at the end of that period) because it wasn’t practical or safe to have a mixture of mph and km/h.

The project was phased but decisive, and was managed officially throughout.

Think of the reality of the health system. Local health area are not going to move unless they are pushed, and even then a good number of them are going to drag their heels because it will cost them money to replace their old scales. If it’s important to replace the scales, then the Minister will have to take steps to ensure that it happens, and happens soon.

Write to local health areas and ask them what plans they have to replace the old dual scales with metric only scales. If they don’t have plans or claim they don’t have the money, get back to the Minister. Let the Minister know that this is a question that will not go away.

Get on to the Opposition. They will relish any stick to beat the Government with, and what better one than old scales that can give misleading readings in the old measures! The tabloid press will also love this story if it’s a way to cry Shock! Horror!

Go to doctors’ organisations and ask what they are doing about this issue. Let them know that this is something that can be fixed, and should be fixed now.

This is a situation where just one or two determined people can make a real difference to the response of the NHS to this dangerous situation of switchable scales in hospitals and NHS health facilities.

If it would be legal to have a pub offer any size instead of being forced to use pints, you would see pint sizes disappear in favour of metric sizes. It would be cheaper to purchase the same size glasses used elsewhere instead of having a special size not used outside the UK.

As with the woman who spoke about her cookbooks, this can be easily solved by not having to get a new scale or new cook books. If the government were to de-legalize imperial units and allow for the units to gradually take on rounded metric values colloquially, such as a pound of 500 g, then it would be easy for someone to use old cook books with a new scale.

The other bit that the Minister was questioned on was that of the malnutrition in hospitals and the importance of weighing scales there for that purpose. While metric-only scales were not mentioned explicitly, it seems that a coherent policy (if that is not too much to ask!) would require metric-only weighing scales as well.

As for the Noble Lady who brought up the issue of cookery books written using Imperial weights and volumes only, I would differ with the Minister (who suggested that the Noble Lady request a dual scale for her next birthday) and propose a “grass roots” effort to encourage publishing houses to republish their cookery books using SI only.