New weighing machine unveiled

A revolutionary new weighing scale devised by a former nurse at University Hospital Monklands – which will have huge benefits for seriously ill patients – has been officially launched.

Invented by Gillian Taylor, the patient transfer scale (PTS) is designed to weigh immobile patients faster and more easily than current methods.

Gillian said:“While working as a nurse, I found it frustrating when trying to get a weight for immobile patients.

“The only way to weigh an immobile patient was to use a hoist scale or a bed scale, but both were time-consuming and cumbersome. I decided there must be an easier way to weigh these patients.

“Then later, while working in practice development for stroke services, it became clear getting an accurate weight quickly can help save a life.

“By using the PTS when the patient is admitted to hospital, there is a weight reading that can be used to accurately administer medication as soon as possible. This is particularly important if the patient’s condition is life-threatening.”

Gillian had the idea of weighing a patient as they are transferred from a trolley to a bed, an existing process that requires the use of a device known as a transfer board.

With help from NHS Lanarkshire, Scottish Health Innovations Limited and weighing scale manufacturer Marsden, Gillian was able to develop the product and bring it to market.

The PTS has been tested in 30 hospitals around the UK which provided guidance for the final design.

Hospitals and healthcare providers from around the globe, including Australia, Germany, the United States of America and New Zealand, are already showing an interest in the PTS.