Kettering General Hospital has come up with a new system which prints barcode labels for newborn babies. Under the scheme, the hospital gives a heel prick barcode label and barcode wristband to all babies within a few hours of their birth.
The heel prick barcode label is added to the red baby book, which is given to the parents to take home. The barcode wristband is attached to the baby’s ankle or wrist in the same way the hand written one was attached in the past.
The hospital has previously said that the National Patient Safety Agency and the UK Newborn Screening Programme asked them to introduce barcode labels.
A spokesperson said that they are not the first Trust to use these bands for babies, but they may be the first who combines the bands with heel prick barcode labels.
The barcode labels contain important information about the baby to which they are attached, such as the baby’s name, date of birth, sex, NHS number and mother’s name. Compared to hand written bands, these barcode labels are more reliable and informative. It is hoped that this new scheme will help reduce potential errors which may occur.