Issue Date:   9 March 2009

Payne Security, a leading provider of ID card solutions to the National Health Service, believes that the use of personal identity cards for patients who require regular blood transfusions can help to prevent medical staff from administering the wrong blood type.

Payne Security’s call follows the recent Safer Practice Notice issued by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), which calls for a range of strategies to ensure that blood transfusions are safely carried out.

“While transfusions are strictly monitored to prevent mistakes, the risk of simple human error must always be factored in,” explains Simon Wildash, Head of Marketing at Payne Security.  “If the final bedside identity check incorrectly matches blood type to patient, they could be in danger.”

Payne Security’s solution is to use photographic ID cards as a sustainable and cost-effective means of verifying information before proceeding with a transfusion.  The company’s capabilities enable the fast and effective production of high-quality cards featuring a photograph of the authorised cardholder alongside essential information such as their name and blood type.

As card designs can easily be tailored to carry different messages or graphics – for example, colour coding – the same technology can be used to provide secure, highly visible identification for other patient groups or staff members.

Payne Security enjoys an unrivalled pedigree for providing comprehensive personal ID card solutions to the NHS, and is already a supplier to more than half of NHS Trusts and hospitals nationwide.

Hospitals have a choice of how to create and issue ID cards.  For cost-effective convenient card creation and issuance, Payne Security’s card management service takes on responsibility for the complete process.  The hospital sends user data via a secure online ordering service to Payne Security’s production facility, where cards are created using state-of-the-art digital printing.  The service also includes fulfilment, so that cards can be delivered either to the hospital or directly to the patient or staff member.  Outsourcing card production also enables the inclusion of additional features such as Braille, something that allows hospitals to help meet compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Alternatively, for those hospitals that prefer to produce cards on-site, Payne Security offers its renowned IDPro7 software, which enables customers to produce sophisticated ID cards in-house.  Where security features are required, these can be incorporated into the base card stock before delivery, so that the hospital only needs to overprint personal information.

 “The versatility and visibility of ID cards makes them an attractive option for hospitals seeking to provide additional failsafe procedures for blood transfusions and similar operations,” concludes Simon Wildash.  “Payne Security has already installed systems for use in the blood transfusion departments at a number of UK hospitals, and we are seeing further interest all the time.”