O2matic PRO 100 for optimising oxygen treatment in respiratory conditions

Equality considerations

NICE is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating unlawful discrimination and fostering good relations between people with particular protected characteristics and others.

Respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are chronic conditions, which may mean someone is disabled if they have a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to do daily activities. Disability is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's guidance on the use and regulation of pulse oximeters (information for healthcare professionals), 2021 highlights a number of factors which can affect the accuracy of pulse oximeters, including skin pigmentation. It reports that darker skin pigmentation may cause an overestimation of SpO₂ saturations, so the relative changes in an individual person's readings should be considered as well as the numerical value.

Race is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.