Scan4Safety

A recent comment from our Minster for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan:

“Patient safety is at the heart of the NHS Wales Scan4Safety programme. The introduction of barcode scanning and the automation of the link between uniquely identified products, places and people, provides real-time data at the point of care and instant traceability of implanted medical devices should a product or patient recall be required. The investment in this Once for Wales initiative will also deliver significant financial savings, improved stock management, removal of time-consuming administrative tasks from clinical staff at the same time as safeguarding our patients from avoidable harm.”

Scan4Safety Wales Programme Background:

In June 2021 the Minister for Health and Social Services approved a full business case and associated investment as the first steps to embedding Scan4Safety principles and practices across Wales. With patient safety at the heart of the programme, data standards and data capture technology are being introduced across NHS Wales.

Automating the linkage of uniquely identified products, places and people, will not only assist in the prevention of patient harm with real-time data at the point of care, but it will provide instant traceability of implanted medical devices should a patient recall be required.

In Sept 2021 a contract was signed for an All Wales Inventory Management Solution (SupplyX) which will utilise these standards and handheld scanning technology to underpin the above benefits. Inventory optimisation benefits are integral to SupplyX, at the same time making ordering and replenishment far less labour intensive and returning clinical time back to patient care.

SupplyX has previously been adopted within NHS Wales in ABUHB, SBUHB and  BCUHB who are at different stages of their journey but all can evidence significant patient and clinical benefits.