Barcodes making implant treatment safer for thousands of Scottish patients
A new safety programme is transforming patient care across NHS Golden Jubilee, enhancing efficiency and safety across more than 43,000 implantable device procedures.
Devices include those used in eye, heart and orthopaedic hip and knee replacement treatments that are permanently implanted into the body.
Since its launch at Clydebank’s Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in October 2023, the Scan for Safety (SfS) programme has supported the delivery of *43,717 procedures across 22 theatres and labs, benefiting 34,722 individual patients and using over 130,469 products.
The Golden Jubilee was the first NHS board in Scotland to roll out the patient safety programme for Cardiac and Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology medical devices.
Scan for Safety has been focused on areas that regularly use implantable devices classified as ‘high risk’ due to the device functionality in helping sustain or support life.
Staff can now scan products and patient information at the point of care, significantly reducing time spent on manual documentation. This allows clinical teams to focus more on delivering person-centred care.
Implantable devices used at NHS Golden Jubilee include:
- Ophthalmology: Lenses for the eye used in cataract surgery to improve vision
- Orthopaedic: Hip and knee implants to replace joints; screws and fixations for foot and hand surgery to help with movement
- Cardiac/Cardiology: Stents, valves, defibrillators, pacemakers
NHS Golden Jubilee Deputy Director of National Elective Services, Caroline Handley, 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.”
Key benefits and achievements:
Efficiency gains: Staff are spending less time on administrative tasks, freeing them to focus on clinical duties.
Improved patient experience: Faster, more streamlined processes mean more time for direct patient interaction.
Enhanced stock control: With real-time inventory data, the programme ensures that essential supplies are always available, reducing waste and improving cost-efficiency.
Improved traceability: In the event of a product recall or clinical issue, affected patients can be identified quickly and accurately, enhancing safety and clinical outcomes.
*Number of procedures at NHS Golden Jubilee up to 31 January 2026:
- Cardiac Surgery: 1,585
- Ophthalmology: 26,921
- Orthopaedics: 10,546
- Cath Labs/Cardiac Physiology: 4,665
As NHS Golden Jubilee continues to lead the way in digital innovation, the Scan for Safety programme stands as a model for how technology can be harnessed to deliver safer, smarter and more efficient healthcare.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “The NHS Scotland Scan for Safety Programme is a key patient safety initiative for the Scottish Government, demonstrating the commitment to ensure that all health and care is safe, effective and person-centred.
“NHS Golden Jubilee is leading the way across NHS Scotland with their early adoption of this important work, improving implantable device traceability for patients and clinicians.”
Scan for Safety is now being used across NHS Scotland in the following Boards (number for all procedures correct at 31 January 2026):
- NHS Lothian: Interventional Radiology and Interventional Neuro Radiology (5,525)
- NHS Highland: Ophthalmology (6,234)
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: Interventional Radiology (710)
- NHS Lanarkshire: Ophthalmology (513)
- NHS Borders: Ophthalmology (1,248)
- NHS Ayrshire and Arran: Ophthalmology (1,121)
Patient Safety Commissioner Scotland, Karen Titchener, said: “Patients should have confidence that the medical devices used in their care can be accurately tracked and traced.
“Scan for Safety is an important step forward in strengthening transparency, improving safety and ensuring that the NHS can respond quickly if any issues arise. I’m pleased to see NHS Golden Jubilee helping to lead the way in Scotland.”
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