GS1 Barcoding
GS1 UK is a community of over 33,000 members working in retail, food service, healthcare and more. They are one of 112 independent, not-for-profit GS1 organisations operating across 150 countries worldwide.They help everyone involved in making, moving and trading goods to automate and standardise their supply chain processes using the common language of GS1 global standards. And they bring the same efficiencies to the healthcare supply chain – right through to improved patient safety.
The NHS is working to bring in GS1 standards as quickly as possible across a number of arenas, which started with patient identification, and now includes unique device identifiers. This makes it important that manufacturers and suppliers to the NHS and Local Government are able to respond to the new tender requirements and supply goods with GS1 barcodes attached. The Medical Devices Directive will be stepping up the requirements for track and trace processes. Legislation is developing across the world for barcoded unique device identifiers and track and trace data.
The Dept of Health – eProcurement Strategy presentation at the bottom of this page sets out the NHS timetable for mandating barcoding for all goods and services supplied.
GS1 barcoding implementation workshops
BHTA has run a series of workshops to support members in implementing GS1 barcoding. These are an opportunity to discuss the issues around implementing barcoding for your company with our expert speakers. If you have any questions about bar coding you can send them to Steve Perry email: steve.perry@bhta.com
Barcoding for medical equipment – guidance
To assist BHTA members to react to these changing market needs, BHTA and GS1 formed a Working Group to put together a set of Guidelines to help you get started with barcoding your equipment. Companies which have introduced barcoding to meet customer requirements have found substantial internal payoffs from improved stock control, faster stocktakes, etc. Their customers throughout the supply chain are able to reduce costs significantly and improve efficiency as well.
Members can download a copy of the BHTA Guidance below.
Other Useful Documents:-
