Borders first in Scotland to fully launch new patient safety programme

We are proud to become the first NHS board in Scotland to fully introduce digital tracking for high-risk implantable medical devices, helping make care safer for patients across the Borders.

This is part of the national Scan for Safety programme, led by Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS), which aims to improve patient safety by replacing paper-based processes with digital records.

The system records implantable devices used during surgery such as hip and knee replacements, hernia repair mesh and artificial lenses used in cataract surgery. This means important information about a patient's implant can be accessed quickly if it is ever needed which supports safer and more timely care.

Before this information often had to be gathered by manually searching through patient records; now clinicians can access the information they need in a matter of minutes using the new digital system.

Since the programme was first introduced in Ophthalmology Services in March 2025, we have recorded more than 1,900 procedures involving implantable devices.

Recently, Scan for Safety was fully rolled out across our services by our theatre and surgical teams, making us the first board in Scotland to achieve full traceability of high-risk implantable devices across all relevant surgical specialties.

Director of Quality and Improvement at NHS Borders, Laura Jones, said: “For patients, this is about peace of mind. If an implantable device is used during an operation, we can quickly and accurately access all the information we need about the device and products used. This supports better follow-up care, even many years later. It also enhances patient safety by enabling automatic notifications in the unlikely event that suppliers notify us of any issues which may require a review of the implanted devices or other scannable products.

“Scan for Safety also reduces the administrative burden on our staff and improves stock management, monitoring of product expiry and support re-ordering helping to reduce waste and free up more time for patient care. Together, these benefits support safer, more efficient services and a better experience for patients.”

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Gregor Smith at Scottish Government, added: “The NHS Scotland Scan for Safety Programme is a key patient safety initiative advancing our commitment to ensure that health and care is safe, effective and person-centred. NHS Borders are setting the standard with their implementation of this important work which delivers rapid electronic implantable device traceability for patients and clinicians.”