Poor Medicines Information Risks Patients Health
4,041 Errors Found In 3,091 Reviews of Patients’ Medicines
New statistics have shown that when patients transfer between NHS services, incomplete or wrong information about their medicine often goes with them, which can lead to serious consequences for their health. Research has shown that around 4-5% of hospital admissions are due to preventable problems with medicines, with the estimated cost to the NHS in England alone costing around £466million.
TRANFER OF CARE …
The most obvious transfer point for patients is home to hospital and back. Others include the patient’s home to care home, hospital to care home, home to hospice or respite care. In these instances, a patient’s care may be managed by several health professionals who in some instances stop, start or change a patient’s medicines whilst they are under their care.DANGER TO PATIENTS HEALTH …
During the transfer period, information about changes in medicine is not always sent on with a patient which can lead to unintentional errors and discrepancies resulting in a patients medicines history being incomplete. In some instances vital medicines can end up being missed out, duplicated or taken late which can lead to patients experiencing greater ill-health and requiring further treatment.NEW GUIDANCE …
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society today publishes a new practice guideline for health professionals which outline a framework for action, emphasising the need for safe systems to be put in place.PATIENTS ADVICE …
In addition to professional guidance, the RPS has also produced a patient fact sheet which provides tips and advice on how patients can ensure they do everything possible to ensure health professionals are fully aware of all medicines the patient is taking. From keeping an up-to-date list of all medicines you are taking to keeping all medicines in a safe place together to ensuring that health professionals clearly explain any new medicines that are being provided.
