GS1 standards are already in action - across just six NHS Trusts, digital inventory management delivered £9 million in savings, freed up 140,000 hours of clinical time and resulted in less waste and fewer delays. The benefits of the standards will be discussed at The GS1 UK Healthcare Conference, taking place at the prestigious QEII Centre in London on 29–30 April 2025.
The GS1 UK Healthcare Conference is back and bigger than ever and is set to shape the future of healthcare. This seventh edition promises to deliver unparalleled strategic insights, policy updates and best practice case studies, all aimed at shaping the future of healthcare.
As the NHS embarks on a new era of digital transformation, this year's conference promises be the most impactful yet. It will arm industry leaders with the insights, strategies and innovations needed to reshape patient care and align with the UK government's three healthcare priorities; to shift care from hospitals to communities, from analogue to digital, and from treating sickness to prevention.
The seventh edition of the conference will emphasise the critical role of GS1 standards in driving improvements across the sector. With over 50 expert speakers, 40 dynamic sessions, 10 hours of CPD accredited content and 16 hours of invaluable networking, this is where innovation in healthcare reaches new heights. Delegates will gain exclusive insights into the groundbreaking NHS Scan4Safety initiative - transforming patient safety, data transparency, and supply chain efficiency across all four UK nations.
This year's programme is centred around the "4Ps" of Scan4Safety person, product, place and process—highlighting the importance of unique identification for enhancing product traceability, data transparency and improving patient safety. Each theme is central to the agenda, with discussions on national programmes such as the NHS Supply Chain inventory management system and point of care scanning rollout, the Outcomes and Registries programme and progress on implementation across the UK.
This year’s lineup features some of the most influential voices in healthcare, including Dr Henrietta Hughes OBE, England’s Patient Safety Commissioner; Sir Julian Hartley, CEO of the Care Quality Commission; and Ming Tang, Chief Data and Analytics Officer for NHS England. These visionaries will tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges, from reducing the risk of unnecessary harm to patients to implementing interoperable electronic patient record systems.
The GS1 UK Healthcare Conference 2025 holds particular significance as it is the first to be held following the government's barcode scanning mandate for NHS England. It is the only event of its kind in the UK, focusing on the benefits of scanning at the point of care and representing the movement towards a future where technology, data and patient safety converge.
Glen Hodgson, GS1 UK head of healthcare, said: "the GS1 UK Healthcare Conference 2025 comes at a pivotal moment for healthcare in the UK. With the need for greater transparency and traceability to support integrated care, there is a growing demand for accurate, interoperable data. Improving data accuracy with GS1 standards, and data capture through Scan4Safety, provides clinicians with even more insights to improve clinical decision making.
“With Scan4Safety expanding across the four nations, this event provides a crucial platform to drive forward the adoption of standards that enhance patient safety, improve operational efficiency and support digital transformation. By bringing together leading experts and decision makers from across the industry, we can facilitate wider collaboration and the sharing of best practices, accelerating progress towards a safer, smarter, and more connected healthcare system."
The GS1 UK Healthcare Conference 2025 is proudly sponsored by Ernst & Young, AdviseInc and Genesis, with representation from dozens of leading healthcare solution providers exhibiting. It is also supported by NHS England’s Scan4Safety team; the Health Care Supply Association; the National Association of Medical Device Trainers; and the Professional Records Standards Body along with top healthcare media outlets including, Clinical Services Journal; Health Business; and Healthcare Matters.
Join over 400 healthcare pioneers, policy shapers and technology innovators at the QEII Centre on 29-30 April. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation that will define the future of patient safety and digital transformation. Register now to secure your place.
Learn more about GS1 UK's initiatives in healthcare at: https://www.gs1uk.org/industries/healthcare.
