More than 100 hospitals have signed up for standardised coding under an initiative to improve patient safety in the NHS.

Independent global supply chain standards and solutions organisation GS1 UK is running the Connecting for Health initiative and has signed hospitals including Epsom General Hospital and Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Speaking at the recent Patient Safety Congress in London, parliamentary under secretary for health services Ann Keen MP, recommended the use of GS1 codes throughout the healthcare system for manufactured products and coding systems used within healthcare settings.

“We want to support the use of technology where this can lead to service improvement and are actively encouraging the uptake of coding in healthcare," she said.

"We believe that this can help staff do what they want to do – deliver the right treatment, to the right patient, at the right time."

"We know it works – patient safety is improved and, therefore, we have recommended the use of GS1 codes.”

NHS hospitals that have implemented the standardised coding system have reduced the threat of cross contamination of surgical instruments and have ensured that patients are receiving the correct medication.

“Growing support from government and NHS agencies has helped to drive the adoption of our initiative," said Gary Lynch, chief executive of GS1 UK.

"Over the past year, we have seen a 22 per cent increase in the number of members in the healthcare sector. We are delighted with the widespread adoption of the initiative that is helping to improve patient safety in hospitals across the UK.”