A patient safety programme is transforming the way care is delivered in specialist Scottish hospitals.
Scan for Safety is currently in place at NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank and uses barcode technology to track high-risk implantable medical devices.
The system has supported 43,717 procedures to date across 22 operating theatres and labs, benefiting 34,722 patients and handling over 130,469 products.
Caroline Handley, deputy director of national elective services at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "This programme is not just about technology, it’s about transforming how we deliver care.
"We’re already seeing how scanning products at the point of care can help us increase the number of procedures we perform, which could have a long-term impact on reducing waiting times.
"We will continue to monitor its impact closely to ensure we are delivering the best possible outcomes for our patients."
Scan for Safety was first introduced at NHS Golden Jubilee in October 2023, making it the first health board in Scotland to implement the system across cardiac and cardiology, orthopaedics, and ophthalmology.
The programme targets areas that regularly use implantable devices classified as ‘high risk’ due to the device functionality in helping sustain or support life.
It improves traceability, stock control, and efficiency by enabling staff to scan devices and patient data at the point of care, reducing manual documentation and freeing up time for patient care.
Devices tracked include intraocular lenses for cataract surgery, hip and knee implants, and cardiac devices such as stents, valves, and pacemakers.
The system also ensures that affected patients can be quickly identified in the event of a product recall or clinical concern.
Ms Handley said the programme at NHS Golden Jubilee could help reduce waiting times in the long term.
The scheme has since expanded to other health boards in Scotland, including NHS Lothian, NHS Highland, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Borders, and NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
The Scan for Safety programme forms part of NHS Scotland’s broader commitment to making care safer, more effective, and person-centred through digital innovation.
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