Doubts voiced over inclusion of device since before launch

In December 2016, two weeks before the launch of the first baby boxes as part of a pilot project, an unnamed official sent an email to colleagues highlighting “a safety concern about the use of in-ear thermometers based on... NHS advice.”

The email sought clarity on whether to include them “bearing in mind that we’ve bought them for the pilot boxes and they’re in all our marketing images!”

An email thought to be in response said: “I don’t think there is anything in the (NHS advice) that concerns me or flags up advice not to use them.”

The communications from December 2016 were found by Scottish Government staff in March last year.

A note taken of a meeting of the baby box stakeholders group at the time said: “There was a slight concern around directions on the thermometers explaining that they should not be used on babies under 28 days detailing safety concerns from health professionals.”

It said contractor APS would check the instructions are clear and confirm this with the Scottish Government “in due course”.

Meanwhile, another communication at the time from officials said it had been highlighted “some paediatricians don’t recommend using digital ear thermometers for babies under six months”, but no definitive advice on this online had been found.

The thermometer box says it is “suitable for all age groups”, but the instructions note “many paediatricians suggest use of ear thermometers for children older than six months”.

One government official suggested asking about the thermometers in evaluation forms and “this can then inform the future box contents”, adding “we have committed to stock up to 2021”.

In an April social media conversation involving officials a mother said her “baby was a couple of weeks old and this (thermometer) was giving ridiculously high temp readings”. She said they were sent to A&E and told the child’s temperature was normal and such misreadings are “common with this thermometer from the baby box”.

The Parent Club website says the device is suitable for all ages.