Rise in NHS prescription errors

There has been a "significant” rise in the number of errors and near misses reported by NHS staff, according to a report by the National Patient Safety Agency. 

Incidents involving medicines have doubled in two years.

The number of reported errors was 36,335 in 2005, 64,678 in 2006 and 86,085 in 2007. A total of 100 incidents resulted in serious harm or death, but 96% caused little or no harm, according to the report.

The report said the top five medication errors were

 i) the wrong dose (one patient was given 100mg of morphine, instead of 10mg)

ii) medicines being missed or delayed,

iii) the wrong drug  (one patient was given a strong sedative instead of insulin)

iv) the wrong quantity,

v) mismatching (where the wrong drug is given to a patient with a similar name).