Scan4Safety is based on the adoption of GS1 standards for the unique identification of every person, every product, and every place known as the three core enablers.
Compliance is achieved through the successful implementation of each of these core enablers to deliver improvements to patient safety.
Ten steps to getting started
1. Become a member of GS1 to obtain your GS1 Company Prefix (GCP)
You will need a GCP so you can form product and location identifiers.
This will enable you to generate Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) for your product(s) and Global Location Numbers (GLNs) for your company and any significant locations.
To join GS1 or find out if your company is already a member, contact the GS1 UK healthcare team on healthcare@gs1uk.org.
2. Learn how to get started with using GS1 standards
GS1 UK’s ‘Barcoding success series’ provides easy to follow step-by-step guidance on how to get started including
everything from understanding GS1 standards to generating barcodes for your products.
Watch the full series at: https://www.gs1uk.org/industries/healthcare/barcoding-success-series/on-demand
3. Allocate a GS1 location identifier for your company
Global Location Numbers (GLNs) are used to identify your company as a supplier to the NHS. This becomes your globally unique supplier code.
4. Register your GLN(s) in LocationManager
You will also need to register your GLN(s) in the NHS GLN registry LocationManager, so they can be shared with the NHS organisations you trade with.
Find out more about LocationManager at: https://www.gs1uk.org/locationmanager.
5. Add the relevant NHS GLNs to your company systems
Ensure the GLNs for the NHS organisations you trade with, are listed in your internal systems so they can be used for purchase to pay (P2P).
6. Allocate your GTINs to your products
Either using GS1 UK Numberbank or your own system, allocate a unique GTIN to each of your products and any predefined packaging configurations, i.e. cartons and cases.
Then, share these with your customers for existing product listings and include these in your tender submissions.
7. Choose the correct GS1 barcode
The barcode required will depend on the data that you need to capture, the packaging levels and the supply chain. The GS1-128 and/or the GS1 DataMatrix will be required to capture the product production information such as the expiry date/LOT etc. alongside the GTIN to identify the product.
8. Verify your barcodes with GS1 UK
To make sure your barcodes are accurate and scannable, you can get your barcodes verified by GS1 UK before printing them on your packaging. This will check the barcode type, the data structure, the size and the scanning quality to ISO 15416 and ISO 15415.
9. Find a Peppol Access Point provider
Peppol stands for Pan-European public procurement online. Using Peppol enables eProcurement via the Peppol network to provide standards-based business process interoperability.
In order to meet purchase-to-pay requirements, you will need to have a Peppol Access Point provider so you can access the Peppol network to exchange information electronically, i.e., for exchanging purchase orders and invoices.
You will need to sign up, and then integrate with a Peppol Access Point: peppol.eu/adoption/access-point-providers
10. Implement electronic orders and invoices using the Peppol standard with GS1 identifiers
Either using the GS1 UK Numberbank or your own system, allocate a unique GTIN to each of your products and any
predefined packaging configurations, i.e., cartons and cases. Then, share these with your customers for existing product
listings and include these in your tender submissions.
Contact us to get started
If you would like to find out more about Scan4Safety, please email us: digital.clinicalsafety@nhs.net
For further information about adopting GS1 standards please contact GS1 UK: healthcare@gs1uk.org