back to menuOne of the extra services we have been induced to buy when we purchase a new suite of furniture is to have it sprayed with Scotchgard to prevent staining, and to allow liquids to run off it, leaving the fabric unharmed. We were surprised to see the headline "All Scotchgard sprays banned" in the free Metro newspaper. We have not seen this information elsewhere. Traces of the perfluorooctanyl chemical compounds are alleged to have been found in customers around the world (!). The manufacturers, 3M, originally found these traces in their workforce in Antwerp. The company emphasises that there is no scientific proof that this has been in any way harmful, but the product has been withdrawn "on the basis of responsible environmental management". The danger lies in the accumulation of the chemical which does not spontaneously break down, no doubt a useful feature for its original purpose.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) estimates that defective goods and substandard services cost each of us £180 a year, but possibly two and a half times this amount for a consumer with half the national average income. The latest figures have now been released for April to June 1999. Once again, second-hand cars top the list with 20,485 complaints, followed by home maintenance and improvements with 15,093. While defective goods or substandard services top the list, they are closely followed by problems related to selling techniques. In the telecommunications sector over half the complaints were about mobile phone services (3,425) with comparatively few regarding Internet service providers (152). There were 8,115 complaints about radio, TV and audio equipment and 6,983 about personal computers. These figures are for complaints brought to the attention of the OFT Just how many complaints are made overall still remains a mystery.
Orange squash, fish cakes and wholemeal bread standards have been deregulated. So what happened to the contents of these products? A partnership of trading standards departments surveyed the effects. Three years ago a legally produced squash had to contain a minimum of 25% fruit juice. A third of all the samples taken were found to contain less than 10% of juice. Many of the squashes now on sale contain less that 30% juice. The fish cakes and wholemeal bread examined had generally maintained their standards. As other products may be deregulated, buyers should read the ingredients lists and look especially for the stated percentage of the main ingredient. Many ready prepared 'meat' meals contain as little as 10% meat.
"Become a dollar millionaire for just $25". "Earn £20,000 part time". These were just some of the unlikely offers discovered by the OFT, four Trading Standards Departments and their co-ordinating body LACOTS, together with 140 international organisations which surfed the net for three hours looking for bogus homeworking schemes, business and investment opportunities, lottery schemes, chain letters and all the other known scams. They were led by the USA's Federal Trade Commission. The UK participants found nearly 100 potentially misleading web sites some of which were based in the UK. Suspect sites were sent e-mails warning that there might be legislation regulating their activities, and the law that applies will not necessarily be that of their own country. The sites will continue to be monitored. It would be interesting to find out what laws would have to be invoked and successful prosecutions achieved to close down such sites. Can anyone enlighten us? [Replies to the Editor]
NfCG was asked to give its views on how the public can become more involved in the Healthcare process. We replied that greater openness is required in all aspects of hospital care. There must be rapid response mechanisms for enquiry when inadequate care or treatment is suspected, preferably in a form that does not condemn those involved to suspension until adequate enquiry has been undertaken. Then there must be quick resolution for the sake of the patients involved and those who will be at risk in the future. A full audit trail is required to spot problems as soon as, or before, they occur. This would seem to be a role for the Community Health Councils, should they be saved from closure. They would be required to scan randomly selected notes for time factors and any previously agreed criteria, including the occurrence of medical complications, especially those requiring an extended stay in hospital. We also want to see the full scope of Information Technology brought into force to make sure adequate information is supplied to patients and parents as well as those involved in their care.
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