Category Archives: Health

Why I became involved with measurement matters

One of our readers has written to explain why he became interested in the campaign to complete Britain’s prolonged metric changeover.

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, Health, Road signs, Science, Technical, Transport | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Bizarre 2/3 pint proposal to go ahead

Despite widespread ridicule, the Government has persisted with the previous Government’s barmy proposal to introduce a 2/3 pint measure for draught beer and cider.  Under the pretence of  “removing unnecessary red tape”, it has actually resisted calls for genuine deregulation.

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments

‘Cultural metrication’ and the NHS

A reader of Metric Views from the USA raises the issue of measurement units in medical practice generally, or ‘cultural metrication’ as he terms it.

Posted in General, Health | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Joules on the menu, please

The very worthy proposal of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that menus should state energy values is undermined by its failure to use proper measurement units.  UKMA has responded by advocating joules rather than so-called “calories” (whatever they may be).

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health, Media, Technical | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Minister agrees it is time to clear up “very British mess”

In response to UKMA’s patron, Lord Howe, the junior Health Minister, Baroness Thornton said she “absolutely agreed” that it is “time for all of us, in all parties,…. to work together to clear up this long-standing and very British mess.”  … Continue reading

Posted in General, Health | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Tory spokesman supports centilitres of alcohol

In a commendable outbreak of common sense, Conservative health spokesman, Andrew Lansley has proposed that, in order to clarify the amount of alcohol being consumed, bottles and cans should be labelled with the quantity of pure alcohol in centilitres rather … Continue reading

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

NHS risking patients’ lives with imperial scales

Six months after an official report warned of systemic negligence in medical weighing practice within the NHS, the Department of Health has failed to issue the necessary safety alert to hospital trusts to ensure that the report’s recommendations are implemented.

Posted in General, Health, Law | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Virgin London Marathon 2010

Martin Vlietstra, a frequent contributor to MetricViews, passes on some misgivings about on the 2010 London Marathon.

Posted in Health, Sport | 7 Comments

BIS sticks with pints of beer (but only on draught)

As expected the Business Department has refused to permit sales of draught beer and cider in convenient metric measures – but its reasoning is bizarre.

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health, Law | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

A 21st Century Approach to UK Peaks

Walking has never been so attractive. It’s cheap, it keeps you fit and it gets you away from the crowds. Yesterday’s launching of a new interactive website on Ben Nevis draws together for the first time a UK-wide peak challenge … Continue reading

Posted in General, Health, Mountains, Sport | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment