Scan4Safety pilots report early savings and patient safety success
There is a quiet revolution going on, bringing innovation and technology to address the health service challenges facing rural dwellers. You should book onto our rural health conference on 28 February 2017 to find out more. This story is a taster bout the kind of approaches moving the dial back towards the sort of services we all require in this context.
The Scan4Safety project has been hailed as a success after pilot trusts reported that it has helped them save money and protect patient safety.
The £12m project involves installing barcode technology, similar to that used in the aerospace and retail industries, on patient wristbands, medication, surgical tools and implements such as breast implants and replacement hips.
At the beginning of last year, the Department of Health announced that Scan4Safety would be piloted at Derby Teaching Hospital, North Tees and Hartlepool and Salisbury FTs and Derby Teaching Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospital and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trusts.
Tim Wells, consultant cardiologist at Salisbury FT, said: “The recent implementation of the Scan4Safety project in cardiology provides us for the very first time complete traceability of products such as implantable medical devices used with our patients.
“Knowledge is power – not only does this provide us with a level of data and insight that can be used to better challenge clinical practice and variation, helping us to reduce inefficiencies and improve patient experience and outcomes – more importantly it ultimately helps to safeguard our patients from avoidable harm.”
He added that in the event of a product recall, Salisbury FT can now easily and quickly track an affected product to the right patient.
The pilot trusts reported that the scheme had helped reduce unnecessary waste, manage stocks, save staff time and give patients information about their treatment. Early results from the six pilot projects suggest Scan4Safety has the potential to save lives and save up to £1bn for the NHS over seven years.