July 12, 2017 Industry news
GS1 UK Healthcare User Group release new guidelines for tracking and tracing surgical instruments, in line with Department of Health requirements
Surgical instrument traceability and management was one of the first implementations of GS1 standards in Trusts, with guidelines originally issued in 2007. This update to the guidelines gives Trusts and their suppliers everything they need to know about surgical instrument marking and how to benefit from it.
Unique identifiers, shown using GS1 barcodes, enable traceability of all healthcare products from production to delivery to the patient – leading to real improvements in patient safety. It also helps Trusts to manage their supplies electronically, improving efficiencies and cutting costs.
For the system to work, everyone involved needs to be using the same standards – and that’s why the Department of Health has mandated the use of GS1 standards in all Acute Trusts in England, and by all their suppliers. These documents provide vital guidance for both Trusts and suppliers looking to begin their adoption of GS1 standards for surgical instrument traceability.
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