No organisation needs to implement Scan4Safety alone. A growing community of NHS organisations, national bodies, and technology partners provides opportunities for learning, collaboration, and mutual support.
National support and resources
- NHS England National Patient Safety Team: The national patient safety team provides strategic leadership for Scan4Safety, coordinating cross-NHS initiatives, and developing guidance and resources including the content on this website. Contact the national team by emailing patientsafety.enquiries@nhs.net
- NHS Supply Chain IMS programme: For organisations implementing or expanding inventory management systems, NHS Supply Chain provides dedicated deployment support, training, and ongoing assistance. Contact: ims@supplychain.nhs.uk
- GS1 UK: Provides guidance on GS1 standards adoption, barcoding requirements, and supplier engagement. Healthcare-specific resources are available at healthcare.gs1uk.org
Connecting with peer organisations
Original Scan4Safety demonstrator sites have extensive experience and are a valuable source of practical advice. These include Derby Teaching Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, North Tees and Hartlepool, Plymouth Hospitals, Royal Cornwall Hospitals, and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.
NHS Supply Chain IMS programme trusts can connect through programme networks and share implementation experiences. Regional networks also exist in many areas — contact your regional NHS England team for local connections.
Contributing to the community
Organisations that share their experience help build the evidence base and support others. Ways to contribute include sharing case studies with the national team for inclusion on this website, participating in national and regional events to present your work and connect with peers, contributing to guidance materials if you have developed effective approaches, and engaging through the Scan4Safety FutureNHS workspace for discussion and peer support.
You can contact the national team by emailing patientsafety.enquiries@nhs.net
Building internal networks
Within your organisation, internal networks sustain adoption. Develop a network of Scan4Safety champions across departments who can provide peer support, answer questions, and promote good practice. Create cross-functional connections between clinical, procurement, IT, and quality teams. Establish learning forums where teams can share experience, discuss challenges, and spread good practice.
Consider developing an internal knowledge resource that captures your organisation’s Scan4Safety learning, documents successful approaches and lessons learned, and is updated regularly as experience grows.