Up to 250,000 health records at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals are being bar coded.

New software has been installed on to the patient administration computer system so medical records can be traced and accessed faster.

Staff wishing to access a patient's notes will be able to see immediately from the computer where they are kept.

Medical records manager Steve Frost said: "Previously the whereabouts of notes was recorded on a manual system.

"This often involved staff spending time visiting a number of departments before tracing the notes. Not only does the new system mean notes are found faster, it also reduces the possibility of records being mislaid."

The medical records department provides a round-the-clock service throughout the hospitals. The new system is being introduced in phases and should be completed by early 2003.