Healthcare
Improve your patients’ safety and be more efficient with our standards
Identify your medicines, medical devices, assets and returnable equipment in the supply chain using bar codes and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. They also help to positively identify patients and staff as well as delivery and requisition locations.
How can GS1 standards benefit your hospital?
- Improve patient safety.
- Reduce errors.
- Save money through improved efficiency.
- Improve care and security of patients.
- Verify identity of patients.
- Tackle counterfeit drugs.
Department of Health recommends GS1 standards
The Department of Health fully recommends the use of GS1 standards throughout the healthcare system in England. This is an important part of their ‘Coding for Success’ policy.
Read the Department of Health’s ‘Coding for Success’ policy document
Why become a GS1 UK member?
- Register and start using your unique GS1 numbers in your hospital – free for NHS trusts in England
- Comply with Department of Health, Information Standards Board (ISB) and National Patient Safety Agency guidance and requirements
- Use global and interoperable standards in your hospital
- Free access to implementation guidelines, education modules and dedicated experts in your field
- Chance to define GS1 healthcare standards through working groups
To find out more about how to join contact Chris Florey, chris.florey@gs1uk.org, 020 7092 3512
How can GS1 standards improve efficiency and save me money?
Improve patient safety
- Reduce errors by using bar codes and RFID tags to match the right patient to the right treatment
- Track medication so your patient receives the right dose at the right time
- Prevent counterfeit medication entering the hospital by identifying and tracing them in the supply chain effectively
- Protect patients from harmful medication with accurate product identification, efficient recalls and withdrawals
- Reduce data errors on patient and inventory records with accurate product data
Reduce costs without affecting patient safety
- GS1 standards reduced Leeds Teaching Hospitals stock costs by more than 30%
- Savings can be reinvested into further improving patient care
Free up healthcare professionals
- Reduce paperwork and manual processing and enable staff to spend more time caring for patients
- Reduce time spent relabeling products
- Replenish stocks automatically and take away need for manual ordering and counting
Eliminate inaccurate data
- Reduce time wasted by inaccurate data sharing
- Get access to centralised, accurate and standardised product data
- Deliver cost savings and be more efficient with greater data integrity
To find out more about how to join contact Chris Florey, chris.florey@gs1uk.org, 020 7092 3512
NHS hospitals that already use GS1 standards
Many NHS hospitals have already successfully implemented GS1 standards including Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospital.
Log in to find out more about healthcare (available to members only)
Read our healthcare case studies.