Using a unique number to identify patients

The Carter Review says hospitals must standardise procedures, be more transparent and work more closely with neighbouring NHS Trusts. AXREM wants patients to be assigned with a unique patient identification number, based on the NHS Number, in order to help support these objectives.

AXREM (Association of Healthcare Technology Providers for Imaging) is the trade association representing the interests of suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT and care equipment in the UK. The association has a number of specialist focus groups (SFG) one of which is the PACS/RIS SFG that supports and represents members who provide most of the diagnostic medical imaging IT installed in UK hospitals. The members of this SFG have unique knowledge, experience and insight into the workflow and challenges faced by healthcare professionals on a day-to-day basis, which enables them to develop and offer innovative solutions to improve the speed and quality of diagnostic procedures and treatments with the ultimate aim of improving patient care. 

In the summer of 2014 Lord Carter was asked to carry out a review of the NHS by the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt as part of his aim to make the NHS the safest and most efficient healthcare system in the world.