Ear thermometers were withdrawn from Scotland’s Baby Boxes after “concerns” were repeatedly raised about their safety, we can reveal.
The digital devices, which are not recommended for use on young babies, were swapped for under-arm thermometers earlier this year.
It has emerged that the change was made 10 months after official experts recommended the Scottish Government review the inclusion of the ear thermometers in Baby Boxes.
Details of the advice and the decision can be revealed following the release of official communications under freedom of information (FOI) laws.
Baby Box thermometer branded ‘dangerous’
One retired GP and clinical NHS manager wrote to officials branding the previously issued devices as “dangerous” due to “inaccurate readings”.
The concerned grandparent continued to press officials this summer on why parents had not been alerted to the issue and the decision to change models.
“There must be tens of thousands of mums in Scotland – like my two
daughters – still using the old ones, completely unaware of the dangers,” the doctor said.
Another parent contacted the government in July, demanding the ear devices be recalled and replaced.
“There is a severe issue with the baby monitor from your box,” they wrote.
“The temperature on it is completely wrong and if I had gone by your thermometer then I would have thought my six-month-old daughter only had a slight temperature when actually she had a horrendously high temperature and a raging infection.
“I’m not the only one to find this either.”
‘Massively impact on budgets’
One e-mail shows how officials discussed publicly offering parents the chance to exchange their ear thermometer for an under-arm device, but said it could “massively impact on budgets”, as well as “unnecessarily concern parents”.
More than 200,000 Baby Boxes have been sent out under the hugely popular scheme, which boasts a 97% satisfaction rate.
The box, which can be used as a safe sleeping space itself, contains essential items such as clothes, a blanket, towels and nappies.
The Scottish Government has previously insisted that there were “no safety issues or concerns identified regarding the digital ear thermometer”.
However, the NHS has long recommended using thermometers under a child’s armpit, stating that ear thermometers “can give misleading readings”.
Concerns raised before launch
We previously revealed that concerns were highlighted about the ear devices in the weeks before the launch of the Baby Box initiative in January 2017.
In 2019, officials were again told that “some paediatricians don’t recommend using digital ear thermometers for babies under six months”.
But the Scottish Government’s Parent Club website stated that they were “suitable for all ages”.
A new FOI response shows an internal update sent in February this year to former Children’s Minister Maree Todd, and others, confirming the change to an under-arm thermometer.
It said: “There have been a small number of concerns about the use of the digital ear thermometer with very young babies, predominantly with temperature readings being potentially higher/ease of use by some families.
“We have sought advice from professionals in paediatrics, neonatal and postnatal units, midwifery and health visiting workforce and whilst there were no immediate safety concerns raised, the advice was to replace the digital ear thermometer with a digital under-arm thermometer when the stocks run out as this is more versatile and suitable from birth.”
The FOI shows that the government received much of the official advice 10 months before the change, having opted to wait until stocks were used up before switching.
Health visitors from across Scotland were contacted around April 2020.
While most said parents had not reported issues with the ear thermometers, and many were “positive” about them, several health visitors noted “concerns” relating to the accuracy of readings, as well as confusion about the instructions for using them.
The government’s clinical lead for the National Neonatal Network was another who was consulted.
The expert highlighted that official NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines state that under-arm thermometers should be used on infants under the age of four weeks.
“All neonatal units and postnatal wards across Scotland units currently use axillary (under arm) thermometers to measure temperatures in the neonatal patient group,” the senior medic said.
“No neonatal unit uses in-ear thermometers.
Review
“It would seem appropriate therefore to consider reviewing the type of thermometer included within the Baby Box.”
The medic recommended either switching to under-arm thermometers or providing clearer instructions that the ear thermometers were “only suitable for use after four weeks of age”.
The government’s senior medical adviser for paediatrics, meanwhile, did not think it was a “significant issue”.
But the expert added: “Assuming cost is roughly equivalent for tympanic (ear) and under-arm thermometers then it may be sensible to change to under arm to follow NICE, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the tympanic thermometer and deal with the concerns of whoever raised the issue.”
They added: “That may raise the question of why they were not chosen in the first place of course.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Previous concerns were examined and all decisions on Scotland’s Baby Box contents were agreed in discussions with health professionals.
“Clinical experts had stressed that there was no reason not to include digital ear thermometers.
“We replaced the digital ear thermometer with a digital under-arm thermometer from 25 February 2021 as this is more versatile and suitable from birth, but can still be used by other family members.
“This decision was based on the professional medical advice in relation to versatility and ease of use of digital thermometers by families, there were no other concerns with the in-ear thermometer.
“We continue to evaluate how Scotland’s Baby Box is helping families and continue to monitor how it can be improved.”