MHRA Yellow Card (and light blue) Reports - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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MHRA Yellow Card (and light blue) Reports

helvella•

4 years ago•9 Replies

I have often posted about the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

(MHRA) Yellow Card scheme for reporting issues with medicines - as in this recent post:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

What you, I and probably most other people had failed to appreciate is that they also accept reports about diagnostic tests, software and apps.

See the light blue box here: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Incidents involving a medical device including diagnostic tests, software and apps

I encourage anyone and everyone who has any such issues to file a report. It is a pretty painless, easy process.

If you have any doubt whether you should make a report, do so. The MHRA are perfectly able to handle inappropriate reports - for example, where they have no authority.

I STRONGLY encourage reporting to the MHRA even if you ALSO report to the supplier/vendor.

One issue I found in looking at the Airmid UK mobile phone app is that it has accessibility issues. Such as important test information displayed in mid-grey on a light-grey background - and in tiny type. If you don't have near-perfect vision, it could very well be impossible to read. Although my report was about other issues, I included this as it is important.

More information about the main issue I reported is available on this thread:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

(Grey-on-grey is just a fashion without any basis in ergonomics and accessibility.)

Written by

helvella

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9 Replies

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nightingale-564 years ago

Thanks for this information helvella . I am having trouble with lots of printing on all different coloured backgrounds lately. Why they think anything other than black on white is acceptable, I'll never know.

helvella• in reply tonightingale-564 years ago

For many things, I personally find it preferable to have documents on the computer.

With most document formats, you can zoom in. And sometimes have other options to help with viewing.

(Not so easy on a phone, of course!)

Zephyrbear• in reply tonightingale-564 years ago

While I was at university we were regularly given the choice whether to have handouts printed on white or blue paper. The reason given for the blue paper was that it made it easier to read for people with reading difficulties such as dyslexia.

nightingale-56• in reply toZephyrbear4 years ago

Unfortunately, I find it fairly hard on most different coloured backgrounds, and much prefer black on white background. Unfortunately, I suppose, you can't please everyone.

helvella• in reply tonightingale-564 years ago

In Firefox, on a PC, you can do a few things that might help. One which works on some pages (but not all) is Reader View.

Go to the View menu and choose "Enter Reader View" - or press the [F9] key.

Go to the View menu and use "Close Reader View" - or press [F9] again - to switch back.

nightingale-56• in reply tohelvella4 years ago

Thanks for this information helvella .

AmandaK4 years ago

I'm a professional editor and proofreader and find it incomprehensible that information is presented in this way.

For websites there are strict rules governing how text in particular is presented - though you wouldn't think it with some of them out there - so why not extend that to other genres?

Unfortunately there is often a battle between editor and designer with one urging for clarity of text and aesthetics and the other wanting to express their artistic flair no matter what and with little regard for the reader. I speak from experience, sadly, though perhaps I've just been unfortunate.

Add into the mix fashion and trend and it becomes even more complex.

The same problems are apparent for instructions and nutritional info on foodstuffs and on medication bottles, packets and leaflets. It's ageist as much as anything else and manufacturers shouldn't be able to get away with it.

helvella• in reply toAmandaK4 years ago

The way websites and apps have gone drives me potty. My eyes are quite good (at least, for my age!), yet many become relatively inaccessible.

We also see an almost total lack of sign-posting. The "old days" of links being clear (underlined and coloured, typically), etc. , have long disappeared. We have to guess what might be needed. Some sort of swipe, or scroll, or double-click on some text.

I have at least mentioned it in my MHRA report. But anyone who is affected by any health app might consider putting in complaints - to the company, whoever points you at it, the MHRA, or anyone else.

We are at the point where a significant case is required. A company having to withdraw, update and re-issue their app. With publicity and sufficient cost to make them (and everyone else in the sector) think again.

AmandaK• in reply tohelvella4 years ago

The other issue is the super sensitivity of websites/apps - you only have to half hover the cursor/finger over a link and you're whisked off to another site. So very annoying.