PATIENTS are to be given barcodes at hospitals in Leeds as part of a pioneering Department of Health initiative.

Leeds is one of six NHS sites where the new Scan4Safety project is to be piloted in a bid to 'revolutionise' patient safety whilst saving up to £1 billion nationally.

Technology associated with major industries such as aerospace and retail, is being introduced by the NHS in England - with barcodes being placed on replacement hips, medication and surgical tools.

The Department of Health says the £12 million project is already helping staff to quickly and easily track each patient throughout their time in hospital. Patients receive bar-coded wristbands when they go into hospital. Barcodes are used to record procedures and equipment used - and each code can be scanned to show exactly which member of staff administered each treatment, at what time and where.

The system should mean that everything from a screw used in a knee operation or a breast implant that may develop a fault years later can be instantly traced.

The NHS believes the scheme represents a huge step forward in eliminating errors.

Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt said: "Scan4Safety is a world first in healthcare – and a vital part of this government’s drive to make the NHS the safest and most transparent healthcare system in the world.

"Using simple barcodes that major industries rely on every day will help to transform standards of care – before, during and after patients have treatment, at the same time as freeing up resources for care by reducing waste."

David Berridge, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Scan4Safety has already allowed us full track and traceability of all products in maxillofacial surgery and ophthalmology. Our rollout programme will make this universal across all our hospitals.

"We now have all inpatients being supplied with a GS1 compatible wristband including a bespoke development for neonates and baby’s wristbands. Future developments in the coming weeks will see GS1 compatible wristbands also being used in our accident and emergency departments. The greater visibility of products used in procedures has given an enhanced visibility of our costs and ultimately Scan4Safety has contributed to greater standardisation and elimination of waste."

The scheme is being piloted across the NHS at six sites - in Leeds, Derby, Salisbury, Cornwall, North Tees and Plymouth. Staff say the project is reducing unnecessary waste and effectively managing medical stocks, as well as saving valuable staff time and giving patients more information about their treatment.

The NHS says on average, one hour a day on every nurse’s shift is wasted searching for stock. Now, it says just as supermarkets know when stock is running low or past its sell-by date, the barcode technology means that staff can easily keep track of hospital goods and order them automatically when they need them.