East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust enhances patient safety with innovative RFID mattress tracking
As one of the largest hospital trusts in England, East Kent Hospitals manages thousands of medical devices across three major sites. The Trust already uses RFiD Discovery technology to track assets such as infusion pumps, ECG monitors and beds. Building on this foundation, it is now applying the same approach to one of the most widely used - yet traditionally difficult to manage - items in patient care: foam mattresses.
A response to growing compliance and safety pressures
Mattresses must be inspected regularly to prevent pressure ulcers and maintain hygiene standards. Previous processes at the Trust relied on manual checks recorded directly on mattress covers, offering limited visibility and no centralised audit trail. Identifying and locating mattresses across multiple hospitals was also challenging, particularly when dealing with contaminated items that required minimal handling.
The introduction of RFID technology has transformed this process. More than 1,700 mattresses are now tagged with two passive RFID labels - one inside the cover and one external rubber tag - improving detection rates across the Trust’s existing RFID infrastructure.
A complete digital audit from acceptance to disposal
Nursing teams use handheld RFID readers and a dedicated app to carry out a structured seven-point annual mattress check. The system automatically matches each mattress to its digital record, guiding staff through the inspection stages and uploading results in real time.
A smart RFID-enabled disposal bin also records when mattresses reach end-of-life, automatically removing them from circulation and creating a full audit trail for compliance.
Clear benefits for healthcare teams and patients
East Kent Hospitals is already seeing clear benefits from the new system, with improved visibility, faster processes and stronger safety controls. Digital records now support full CQC compliance, while teams can quickly identify and remove faulty or contaminated mattresses to reduce infection and pressure-ulcer risks. Automated identification reduces manual tasks and helps staff locate mattresses across sites, and contact-free RFID scanning strengthens infection control. The Trust also gains reliable, real-time data to plan and make informed procurement decisions.
This technology has transformed the way we manage our foam mattresses. We now have complete confidence that every mattress is tested, tracked, and either maintained or disposed of appropriately, helping us keep patients safe while improving efficiency.
Setting a new benchmark for NHS mattress management
By extending RFID tracking beyond medical devices to everyday patient-care assets, East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust is demonstrating how digital innovation can strengthen safety, improve auditability and streamline clinical operations. The initiative provides a scalable model that other NHS trusts can readily adopt.
Find out more about this initiative and its outcomes in the full case study: East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust transforms mattress management with RFID technology | RFiD Discovery
About RFiD Discovery
RFiD Discovery, a Paragon ID company, is the UK leader in integrated identification and location tracking solutions, with deployments in over 200 hospitals across the UK, Europe, and beyond. With more than 15 years’ experience, RFiD Discovery provides a comprehensive suite of tracking solutions for medical devices, sterile services, temperature monitoring, staff safety, patient flow and more.
RFiD Discovery holds Cyber Essentials certification and is GS1 UK approved.
