Tag plan to cut medical mix-ups

Nov 9 2006 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

PATIENTS and newborn babies are to be tagged with ID bands in a bid to step up safety at a Birmingham hospital.

Bosses at Good Hope Hospital, in Sutton Coldfield, have revealed plans to introduce the new tagging system to prevent errors in treatment and improve care.

Doctors are also being warned to recheck names with all patients so there are no mistakes with people being given the wrong drugs, blood transfusions they don't need or even sent to theatre for the wrong operation.

All incoming patients, including A&E emergencies, are to have an ID card attached to their wrist within 30 minutes of being admitted under the new system.

Newborn tots in the maternity suites at Good Hope will have tags on a wrist and an ankle for extra security.

Identity bands will include the patient's full name, date of birth and note any allergies, such as to penicillin.

"This policy is to reduce the risk of misidentification and standardise the use of ID bands throughout the trust," said a Good Hope spokeswoman.

"Correct patient identification is an essential stage in the care process and there could be significant consequences if an error is made.

"The National Patient Safety Agency advises that all in-patients wear ID bands to identify them and the care they need.

"Patient safety can be compromised if an identity wristband is not worn."

Patients have the right to refuse to wear a wrist band, which is then recorded by hospital staff in the patient's notes.

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