Author: Rebecca Webb

New UP-200 Pulse Oximeter

The A&D Medical UP-200 fingertip pulse oximeter is an easy to operate oximeter featuring one-button control. Designed to measure arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate in adults it is suitable for use in hospitals, GP Practices or home use. Simply place the Pulse Oximeter on your finger, press the button, and the results are clearly shown in any direction on the easy to read autorotate LCD.

With its fast measurement response time the device is small, light-weight and portable making it easy to take measurements on the go. The power saving features prolong battery life, whilst the low battery indicator ensures you’re never caught out.

With its rotational display the UP-200 features different display modes and will display, SpO2%, pulse rate, pulse waveform and pulse intensity on its display. Compliant with the IEC 60601-1 Quality Standard, the UP-200 fingertip pulse oximeter is suitable for on the spot Sp02 measurements and has an IP ingress protection of 22.

Key Features

• LED display
• CE 0123 Marked
• Displays SpO2%, pulse rate, pulse waveform and pulse intensity
• Auto power off
• One button control
• Universal finger clip suitable for adults
• Lightweight and portable
• Autorotate view readings from any angle
• Requires 2 x AAA batteries (supplied)
• 2 year warranty

Supplied with

• Carry case
• Lanyard
• Instruction manual
• 2 AAA batteries

At The Heart Of Healthcare Technology For 48 Years!

As we celebrate our 48th year in business I’ve recently taken a nostalgic look back over the various innovative products PMS have introduced to the UK healthcare market since 1975.

Some of them really were ahead of their time and have led to the development of subsequent products still in use today. Here I take a look back at a few of the more notable ones.

1994 – A&D Medical TM-2421 24 Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring System

The UK’s first dual method, Korotkoff Sound/Oscillometric 24 hour BP monitor, it proved to be very popular from 1994 to 2007 when it was replaced by the improved A&D TM-2430 24 Hour BP monitor.

1995 – E – Z Therm The 3 Second Thermometer

This was one of the UK’s first Tympanic thermometers. It was very popular and sold in large numbers. The fast measurement time meant it was popular for use in children and as a replacement for Mercury thermometers.

1997- A&D Medical UA 767 Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

The classic low cost and easy to use three in one digital BP monitor that gave systolic, diastolic and heart rate simultaneously on a large LCD display. Clinically validated it was popular with GPs and Hospitals as well as being used for clinical research. The latest generation is the A&D Medical UA-767 + AFib still one of our most popular digital BP monitors used extensively by the NHS.

2003 – Meditech Merlin ECG watch

Ahead of its time and before Smartwatches were available the Merlin watch was a low-cost ECG event recorder designed to capture transient arrhythmias. It was easy to wear and activate and could store up to 15 minutes of ECG recordings. PMS sold the watch until 2013 when it was discontinued by Meditech. It led to the development of the Meditech CardiUP3! Holter ECG. The latest AliveCor KardiaMobile 1L and 6L are great examples of how mobile ECG technology has moved on.

2009 – Tidi Disposable Cuff Barriers

Originally introduced by PMS as a cost-effective alternative to expensive single use blood pressure cuffs and as a hygienic solution to using fabric cuffs. They are still by the NHS today and were especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introducing these products helped establish the PMS Instruments ethos of being At The Heart Of Healthcare Technology and to the development our innovative product range which still includes 24 hour blood pressure monitors, waiting room and digital blood pressure monitors, and mobile, resting and Holter ECG monitors.

PMS Instruments receives the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award 2023

PMS Instruments have been awarded a Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.

Feefo established the Trusted Service Awards in 2014 to recognise brands that use the platform to collect verified reviews and receive exceptional feedback from their customers. The awards are unique because they truly reflect a business’s dedication to providing outstanding customer service by analysing feedback from real customers.

PMS Instruments has been a Gold Award holder since 2017 and a Platinum Award holder since 2020.

Working with over 6,000 brands, Feefo is the world’s largest provider of verified reviews, helping brands understand customers by analysing verified reviews and providing insight into trends, needs and habits. With 96% of customers relying on reviews to purchase, Feefo also creates trust between consumers and businesses by adopting a unique approach to only collect verified reviews from real people.  

With consumer confidence at near historic lows due to rising inflation, as well as research from the Institute of Customer Service revealing that complaints rose to 17.3% in the second half of 2022, this award celebrates brands that are successfully navigating tough market conditions to deliver exceptional service.

Feefo only awards Platinum Trusted Service Awards to businesses that have achieved Gold standard for three consecutive years. To receive a Gold Trusted Service Award, businesses must have collected at least 50 reviews with a Feefo service rating of between 4.5 and 4.9 between 1st January 2022 and 31st December 2022.

PMS Instruments is also an approved supplier on Practice Index where we have received over 150 five star reviews.

Congratulating PMS Instruments, Tony Wheble, CEO at Feefo, said: “The Trusted Service Awards have always been about recognising companies that go way beyond the norm in customer service and in turn receive great feedback from delighted customers”. A particular congratulations to PMS Instruments for winning a Platinum Trusted Service Award by providing great customer service consistently over a number of years. I look forward to seeing them continue to achieve next year and beyond.”   

Does It Matter What Time You Take Your BP Medication?

The Treatment in Morning versus Evening (TIME) study has recently been published. The study compared the morning dosing of blood pressure lowering medication with evening dosing of the same medication for people with high blood pressure.

Previously it was thought that the time of day you took your medication influenced how effective it was.

However, the results of the TIME Study by the University of Dundee has shown that the time of day you take your medication does not have any impact in terms of heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular death.

The study included 21,104 patients over the age of 18 with high blood pressure from across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Each participant was randomly instructed when to take their medication.

There were slight differences in side effects. Patients who took their medication in the morning were more likely to report feelings of dizziness, light-headedness, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhoea and muscle aches. Those who took their medication in the evening were more likely to report an increase of visits to the toilet.

These results mean that a patient, with their doctor can choose which time of day to take their medication to minimise side effects and which time of day suits them the best.

The TIME study was sponsored by the University of Dundee and funded by the British Heart Foundation (CS/14/1/30659). In addition, the study was supported by the British and Irish Hypertension Society, SHARE, UK Biobank, and UK Clinical Research Networks (UKCRN).

KardiaMobile 6L NICE Draft Guidance

Last month NICE published first draft guidance from its Early Value Assessment pilot project recommending smartphone-linked ECG devices.

NICE has identified there is an unmet clinical need for a more easily accessible and available ways to measure heart rhythm disturbance such as QT interval in the psychiatric service setting.

Before beginning treatment and at regular intervals during their treatment patients taking antipsychotic medicines may need to be tested for heart problems. Issues such as rhythm disturbance can influence the medicines prescribed to them, the dosing and whether they should stop taking them.

Currently a 12 lead ECG is used to measure QT intervals which psychiatric patients can find distressing as they need to remove clothing and have gel filled electrodes attached to their chests.

The KardiaMobile 6L ECG is a small portable device which can be used in any setting, including home visits and only requires the patient to rest their thumbs or finger on the top of the device and the bottom onto the skin of their left leg. This may be less distressing for the patient.

The KardiaMobile 6L data is recorded electronically and can be sent to any smart phone or tablet.

PMS Instruments receive Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award 2022

PMS Instruments have been awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award for the third year running.

Since 2014, Feefo has recognised the businesses who deliver exceptional experiences, using feedback from real customers.

The Trusted Service Awards are unique as they are based purely on feedback from real customers. This means they are a true reflection of commitment to outstanding customer service.

Feefo have given Platinum Trusted Service awards to businesses who have achieved Gold standard for three consecutive years. To receive a Gold Trusted Service award, businesses must have collected at least 50 reviews with a Feefo service rating of between 4.5 and 4.9 between 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2021.

Andrew Webb, Manging Director at PMS Instruments commented: “We’re thrilled to receive this award from Feefo. It means a lot because it’s based on feedback from our customers and, ultimately, keeping them happy is why we come to work each day. The award also recognises just how hard our staff have worked in really difficult circumstances. We’re fully committed to the highest quality of service, so it’s vital for us to listen, understand and respond to all our customers.”

Congratulating PMS Instruments, Kim Burgess, Head of Customer Success at Feefo, said:

“The Trusted Service Awards recognise companies who go above and beyond to provide the very best customer experience.

“I’m so impressed by how our customers have overcome the challenges of the past two years. A particular congratulations to our Platinum Trusted Service winners. It’s an extremely tough challenge.

“I can’t wait to see what our customers achieve in 2022.” 

About Feefo

Feefo is a leading global customer reviews and insights platform on a mission to empower its clients to fully understand how their customers experience their product or service.   

Community Pharmacies to Offer Hypertension Case Finding ABPM Service

According to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) Hypertension is one of the biggest risk factors for CVD (Cardio Vascular Disease) affecting 7 million people and represents a financial burden of approximately £9 billion a year to the NHS.  

The NHS Long Term Plan commits the NHS to reducing morbidity and mortality due to CVD, tackling inequalities and a shift towards prevention strategies. It specifically states that community pharmacy, in collaboration with other providers, will provide opportunities for the public to check on their health through tests for high BP and other high-risk conditions.

The 2019-2024 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework agreed to pilot a model for detecting undiagnosed CVD in community pharmacies through NHS England and NHS improvement’s Pharmacy Integration Fund (NHSE&I). The majority of the pilot scheme started after March 29th when Covid restrictions were eased. The scheme covered 6 Primary Care Networks (PCN). 35 pharmacies participated in 4 geographies. The pilot sites included rural and urban areas, areas of high ethnicity and areas of mixed deprivation/affluence. The pilot scheme ended in September 2021.

As a result of the, success of the pilot scheme, from 1st October 2021 a new Hypertension case finding service can be offered by UK pharmacies.

Which monitor should a pharmacist purchase?

The Meditech ABPM-06 ABPM monitor meets and exceeds the list of considerations the PSNC suggests pharmacists consider when purchasing an ABPM on their website. The non-exhaustive list includes;                 

  • Is maintenance and training included in the purchase price?

PMS Instruments includes remote support and training. We can also provide a standard operating procedure (SOP)

  • Calibration versus replacement cost and the carbon footprint of both activities;

As a Meditech Official Service Partner we offer a fixed price service and calibration plan after the first two years

  • Frequency/cost of cuff replacement and other consumables;

Meditech cuffs are latex free wipeable and hygienic. Meditech ABPM monitors can use re-chargeable batteries reducing running costs

  • Complexity of use – time taken to use (and explain use, in the case of ABPM);

The easy-to-use Meditech ABPM-06 monitor has been designed with comfort in mind and based on feedback from thousands of customers worldwide

  • For ABPM, the usability of any inclusive software to support set up for the patient and interpretation of readings. Additionally, software and hardware compatibility with existing pharmacy IT systems needs to be considered, e.g., can you plug the meter into a USB port on a PC in the pharmacy.

Meditech ABPM-06 has automatic textual analysis to the latest NICE guideline classifies into 1 of 3 hypertension classifications, as well as number of successful readings determines if recording has been successful. It automatically generates average readings for rapid standard assessment. Comes with a standard USB PC cable for genuine plug and play operation.

  • ABPM must be validated by the British and Irish Hypertension Society (BIHS)

Meditech ABPM-06 is listed on the BIHS website and is FDA and CE approved with an AA grade

The Meditech-06 from PMS Instruments has a whole list of features including free 2 Year Premier Support including remote training and technical support. The Meditech-06 is Supplied with

• Adult (25-32cm) cuff
• Large adult (32-42cm) cuff
• USB PC cable
• CardioVisions analysis software
• Carry pouch, shoulder strap, waist belt
• Quick start user instructions
• 3-year warranty on monitor

To discover even more reasons to purchase a Meditech ABPM-06 from PMS Instruments click HERE