Using technology to drive safer care
Scan4Safety is an innovative NHS initiative, supporting the introduction of barcode technology to improve patient safety, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce costs and waste across NHS hospitals.
At its core, by scanning unique barcodes linked to people, products, places, and processes, Scan4Safety enables healthcare professionals to instantly capture and record accurate electronic data on patient care, while tracking supplies in real time to optimise inventory management.
Innovation around this technology is continuing to evolve under Scan4Safety, with examples of it being used to address a range of needs, from alerting staff to expired medical products to improving beds management, pharmacy services, and pathology sample traceability.
In addition to improving patient safety, Scan4Safety enables healthcare staff to spend more time on direct patient care rather than administrative tasks, while generating cost savings that can be reinvested into NHS services.
About“I am delighted to be taking Scan4Safety forward as a priority within the National Patient Safety Team. Scan4Safety is a solution proven to deliver costs savings, efficiency gains and patient safety benefits through the use of digital technologies. I am encouraged to see so much interest in this work from across the NHS and hope this website will provide the guidance, tools and support needed for organisations to start and improve their own local Scan4Safety programmes.”
Dr Kelsey Flott, Deputy Director of Patient Safety Digital
Scan4Safety News
How clinical engagement and change management enabled Scan4Safety benefits in theatres at Doncaster and Bassetlaw
7 November 2024
Implementation of bedside electronic transfusion checks at Barts Health Trust: Quantifying benefits
24 October 2024
Lost tissue samples a thing of the past with new innovative tracking system at Leeds Teaching Hospitals
8 October 2024
Join the GS1 UK webinar on the Medical Device Outcome Registry
23 September 2024
Using barcode scanning technology to improve blood group testing in unborn babies
17 September 2024
Case study: End-to-end product traceability enables safer, more efficient care for Lancashire
4 July 2024
NHS England responds to HSSIB report on positive patient identification
23 May 2024
NHS Supply Chain launches policy to support globally recognised coding standards for medical device identification
13 May 2024
The Scan4Safety website has a fresh new look!
14 February 2024
Scan4Safety FutureNHS Platform
Join our Scan4Safety FutureNHS page to access more information, resources, and the forum to connect with peers, share insights, collaborate and find answers to your questions around the Scan4Safety delivery:
Scan4Safety – Digital Clinical Safety – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform