Guys (and Gals) - just to resurrect this topic for a brief moment (please forgive) .. but this follows on from Roy's final post ..
We are currently engaging with a flow-meter manufacturer to produce bar-coding on our NEW (400 or so) flow-meters. We are having some problems with them largely to do with Production incompetence and promises made by Sales that they seem un-able (or un-willing) to fulfill.
That's another story .. (grrr)
However, (before climbing onto my soapbox about that!) as we now understand it NHS PASA are recommending standardisation on one type of bar-code format [EAN.UCC] and this is creating a little problem for us.
The problem being the symbology is quite 'wide' physically - fine for boxes and packaging, but for equipment not so convenient. We would have preferred Code 39, for example, but alas.
For a detailed explanation:
http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/eprocurement/bar_coding/Barcoding_position_statement_5oct2004.doc or FAQ:
http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/eprocurement/bar_coding/FAQ_on_PASA_statement_for_bar_coding.doc My key question is, as experienced NHS users out there - have you encountered manufacturer barcoded equipment?
Now obviously our manufacturer wants to follow the recommended standard, but if it doesn't work for us directly on equipment, it's a non-starter.
It is however a significant decision, as like many of you out there, once we go down this route, we don't want to have to retract, so any feedback welcome.
You will see from the link above, PASA are fairly clear on the standard they want everyone to adopt (see section 5.1).
So sorry, Roy my friend, your fears may be realised :-(
Should this also apply to our own (in-house) bar-coding methodology, even though it is not a PASA "policy"?
C.
