MHRA Mattress League Table - Urgent Customer Announcement from Invacare

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 12, 2011 - A “league” table for mattresses has been compiled and is in current circulation impling that a mattress product evaluation was commissioned by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and forms part of an official MHRA report undertaken on behalf of the then MDA  (Medical Devices Agency) in 2004.

This is emphatically NOT the case.

The Facts:

In 2004, the MDA department responsible for the evaluation of medical devices commissioned a report looking at key characteristics of mattresses then available for purchase within the pressure area care sector. The contract was awarded to ASPIRE, Centre for Disability Sciences Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science at University College London. Following twelve months of stakeholder consultation regarding content, the testing was undertaken.

The results were neither intended to be prescriptive or be used to rank one manufacturers’ mattress over another, merely to provide a series of comparative results designed to help people make a more informed purchasing decision.

The senior management of MSS (Medical Support Systems Ltd) derived the original “league” table, very similar to that of the above for the purposes of Sales and Marketing. Following the acquisition of MSS in 2005, Invacare withdrew the document deeming it to be inappropriate and potentially misleading. The newer version (Fig. 1, above) would appear to be a modified version of this original.  

Why is it misleading?

The MHRA have been approached regarding the validity of the mattress “league” table and have categorically denied any involvement with the document

In addition:

•   Not all manufacturers that appear in the table existed in 2004
•   Not all products listed on the table existed in 2004
•   Many of the products specifications have changed since 2004 and not been subjected to the same testing regime and therefore the validity must be questioned.
•   Many products in the original report have been omitted from the table

To view the League Table, please visit http://www.invacare.co.uk/articles/invc-invacare-news--46...

Any further incidents of anyone proffering the document to you should be reported to the MHRA immediately.

For further information or assistance, please contact your local Invacare Business Development Manager or call Customer Services on 01656 776222.

ENDS

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Invacare is the global leader in home medical products and manufactures manual, power and active wheelchairs, profiling beds, pressure reducing mattresses & cushions, walking aids, wheelchair back systems and lifting, bathing & hygiene products globally