FOI 26-081 Surgical Markers
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-081 Surgical Markers
- Request Date
- 13 Feb 2026
- Response Date
- 18 Feb 2026
- Information Requested
To whom it may concern, I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I am interested in the types and colours of surgical skin markers used within your organisation, and how procurement or clinical guidance decisions are made about their use. Please provide the following information: A list of all surgical skin markers currently used in your organisation for: Pre-operative site marking in theatres. Marking the skin for bedside or ward-based procedures (e.g., central venous access, chest drains, skin demarcation, or similar). For each marker, please include: Brand and product name. Ink colour(s). Typical clinical area(s) where it is used. Copies of any product specifications, catalogues, or procurement documents held by the organisation that describe available colours and intended use. Copies of any current Organisational policies, protocols, guidelines, or training materials that: Refer to the choice of surgical skin marker colour. Refer to visibility of markings in different clinical contexts or patient groups. Address this issue within equality, diversity and inclusion, patient safety, or clinical governance documents. Information on whether any additional or alternative marker colours (beyond standard ones) are available within the organisation (e.g., for use in clinical areas or patient groups where standard markings may be less visible). Anonymised, aggregated incident reports, risk assessments, or patient safety reports (1 January 2019 to present) where visibility of skin markings was identified as a contributory factor. (No patient-identifiable information is requested.)
- Response
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) does not undertake preoperative site marking in theatre settings or ward based hospital procedures. We therefore do not hold recorded information on surgical skin markers (including brands, colours, clinical areas of use, product specifications, procurement documents, policies, protocols, guidelines, training materials, equality/patient safety/clinical governance references, or alternative/ additional colours). We also do not hold incident reports where the visibility of surgical skin markings was a contributory factor, operative site marking in theatre settings or ward based hospital procedures. We therefore do not hold recorded information on surgical skin markers (including brands, colours, clinical areas of use, product specifications, procurement documents, policies, protocols, guidelines, training materials, equality/patient safety/clinical governance references, or alternative/ additional colours). We also do not hold incident reports where the visibility of surgical skin markings was a contributory factor.
It is for this reason we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 as information not held.
