UPDATE:  This project has been completed

The Outpatients’ Department at Burnley General Hospital treats approximately 2000 children each year. As part of their assessment children are routinely weighed to measure health, growth and food intake needs, as well as doses of medication.   At present the clinic has suitable scales to weigh and assess babies and small children, but older children and teenagers are larger and more difficult to handle, and as a result it is difficult to monitor older children with severe disabilities. 

At present children are lifted by carers onto scales designed for small children and babies. As well as the discomfort and impracticality of this, there is also a risk to carers when lifting larger children out of wheelchairs and into a scale.

Staff at the Child Development Centre within the Outpatients’ Department have asked us to help by providing purpose built scales designed for all ages up to adults. This will enable doctors to detect any health problems earlier, to give the most appropriate care, and give more accurate prescriptions of medication.