I am someone with an aviation technical career background and has handled aircraft first aid kits and medical kits and with some background on what QR use.
QR carry First Aid Kits, Emergency Medical Kits and Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) on all aircraft. QR also contracts with a medical service provider to provide remote medical assistance.
From my background I can tell you that QR doesn't skimp on these things, even on things like aircraft maintenance there are many failures of equipment and parts that don't affect the safe operation of the aircraft where airlines are allowed to fly the aircraft for a certain period without replacing the equipment, QR would typically replace defective or faulty equipment ASAP while many other major airlines would continue flying as close as possible to the maximum allowed time with the defects if it doesn't affect their operation.
My guess, is that it was miss-communication/confusion, in any case neither the pulsoximeter nor an ECG monitor are required or even recommended in the EU guidelines.
The EU regulations are:
EU-OPS 1.745
First-aid kits
(a) An operator shall not operate an aeroplane unless it is equipped with first-aid kits, readily accessible for use, to the fol- lowing scale:
(b) An operator shall ensure that first-aid kits are:
1. inspected periodically to confirm, to the extent possible, that contents are maintained in the condition necessary for their intended use; and
2. replenished at regular intervals, in accordance with instructions contained on their labels, or as circumstances warrant.
OPS 1.755
Emergency medical kit
(a) An operator shall not operate an aeroplane with a maximum approved passenger seating configuration of more than 30 seats unless it is equipped with an emergency medical kit if any point on the planned route is more than 60 min- utes flying time (at normal cruising speed) from an aerodrome at which qualified medical assistance could be expected to be available.
(b) The commander shall ensure that drugs are not administered except by qualified doctors, nurses or similarly qualified personnel.
(c) Conditions for carriage
1. The emergency medical kit must be dust and moisture proof and shall be carried under security conditions, where practicable, on the flight deck; and
2. An operator shall ensure that emergency medical kits are:
(i) inspected periodically to confirm, to the extent possible, that the contents are maintained in the condition necessary for their intended use; and
(ii) replenished at regular intervals, in accordance with instructions contained on their labels, or as circumstances warrant.
As you can see the regulations are pretty vague, so there is some guidance provided which is a recommendation for the contents of the emergency medical and first aid kits and is as follows:
First-Aid Kits
Equipment
Bandages (assorted sizes)
Burns dressings (unspecified)
Wound dressings, large and small Adhesive dressings (assorted sizes)
Adhesive tape
Adhesive wound closures
Safety pins
Scissors
Antiseptic wound cleaner
Disposable resuscitation aid
Disposable gloves
IV cannulae (if IV fluids are carried in the FAK a sufficient supply of IV cannulae should be
stored there as well)
Medications
Simple analgesic – may include liquid form
Antiemetic
Nasal decongestant
Gastrointestinal antacid
Anti-diarrhoeal medication Bronchial dilator spray
Other
A list of contents (medications in trade names and generic names) in at least 2 languages
(English and one other). This should include information on the effects and side effects of
medications carried.
First-Aid handbook
Medical incident report form
Biohazard disposal bags
Ground/Air visual signal code for use by survivors
Emergency Medical Kit - note even these are recommendations only
Equipment
Sphygmomanometer – non mercury
Stethoscope
Syringes and needles
IV cannulae (if IV fluids are carried in the FAK a sufficient supply of IV cannulae should be
stored there as well)
Oropharyngeal airways (3 sizes)
Tourniquet
Disposable gloves
Needle disposal Box
Urinary catheter (2 sizes) and anaesthetic gel
Basic delivery kit
Bag-valve masks (masks 2 sizes: 1 for adults, 1 for children)
Thermometer - non mercury
Forceps
Intubation set
Aspirator
Blood glucose testing equipment
Scalpel
Automated external defibrillator
Medications
Coronary vasodilator
Anti-spasmodic
Epinephrine/Adrenaline 1:1 000
Adrenocortical steroid
Major analgesic
Diuretic e.g. furosemide
Antihistamine, oral and injectable form
Sedative/anticonvulsant, injectable rectal and oral forms of sedative
Medication for hypoglycaemia e.g. hypertonic glucose
Antiemetic
Atropine
Bronchial dilator – injectable and inhaled form
IV fluids, in appropriate quantity
Acetylsalicyl Acid (Aspirin) 300 mg in oral and / or injectable form
Antiarrythmic
Antihypertensive medication
Injectable antibiotic