Real Stories, Real Impact
QR Code Wristbands: Providing the right information, at the right time, to make the right decision
A charity-funded project in collaboration with Cardiff and Vale University Healthboard and Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, is pioneering QR code wristbands for palliative oncology patients, giving emergency responders instant access to vital medical information. This innovation empowers patients to receive safe, personalised care, improving outcomes and respecting their wishes.
An innovative, charity-funded feasibility project is pioneering the use of wearable QR code wristbands to revolutionise emergency care for palliative and supportive care patients. Led within Velindre by Professor Nikki Pease, Dr Alice Crabtree and Dr Elin Harding, whose roles are supported by charitable donations, this project is making critical strides in improving how vital patient inforamtion and wishes are shared in high-pressure situations.
The project, based at Velindre and extending its influence across Wales, introduces discreet wristbands containing QR codes that link to secure, patient-owned medical profiles. These profiles include essential information such as current treatments, medication allergies, diagnoses, emergency care plans, and key contacts, as well as future care plans, Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) documents for Health and Welfare and DNACPR forms, where patients want this information readily available. The data can be accessed instantly by paramedics, GPs and out-of-hours GPs via a scanning with a smartphone/tablet.
Currently, Wales lacks a simple, effective way to share medical information between hospital teams and community-based emergency responders. This gap can lead to delays or inappropriate treatment, particularly during emergency callouts. By wearing the QR wristbands, patients are empowered to receive safe, personalised care at home, with the confidence that first responders will be fully informed and aligned with their wishes.
Dr Harding reflects on the importance of this work:
“I feel very lucky to be in the role that I’m in and working alongside patients. The research we’re doing can make a really big impact.”
The impact on patients and families
For many palliative care patients, emergencies often arise during evenings and weekends, requiring urgent help from ambulance crews or out-of-hours doctors. In these moments, timely access to a patient’s background and care preferences can dramatically affect the outcome of their care.
The QR code wristband addresses a longstanding issue in the continuity of care by acting as a digital bridge between patients, hospitals, and emergency services. With a simple scan, healthcare professionals can instantly view up-to-date, patient-approved information that supports informed decision-making, reduces unnecessary hospital admissions, and ensures patients’ end-of-life preferences are respected.
Importantly, the system also offers peace of mind to families. Knowing that their loved one’s care plan, emergency contacts, and critical health details are available in real time gives reassurance that care will be appropriate and compassionate, no matter who responds or when.
This forward-thinking project is a shining example of how research, enabled by charitable support, can directly translate into practical, life-enhancing change. It brings dignity, clarity, and personalised care to patients when they need it most. The initiative strives to provide the right information to the right healthcare professional, at the right time – it’s only just the beginning.
Looking to the future
This project has been a collaboration with Cardiff and Vale University Healthboard and Welsh Ambulance Service Trust. We aim to expand access across the whole of Wales, making these innovative QR code wristbands available to all palliative care patients. With the potential for national reach and long-term impact, this pioneering initiative would not be possible without the vital support of charitable funding.
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