Skip to content

Medication errors

In this section

  1. 1
    Introduction
  2. 2
    About this policy
  3. 3
    Who this policy applies to
  4. 4
    Royal Pharmaceutical Society principles
  5. 5
    Person Centred Care and Mental Capacity
  6. 6
    Duty of care in GSL arrangements
  7. 7
    Carer training, competency and general conditions which apply to medication administration in GSL arrangements
  8. 8
    Medications that trained and competent carers may administer
  9. 9
    Ensuring that people have an adequate supply of medication
  10. 10
    Storing medication
  11. 11
    Administering medication
  12. 12
    Medication records
  13. 13
    Disposing of medication
  14. 14
    Continuity of care when someone is on a short visit away from home or moves between carers
  1. 15
    Side effects / adverse reactions
  2. 16
    Medication errors
  3. 17
    Monitoring medication support arrangements / quality assurance
  4. 18
    Concerns and complaints
  5. 19
    Emergency preparedness
  6. 20
    Implementation
  7. 21
    Review
  8. 22
    Policy Details
  9. 23
    Appendix 1 - Definitions
  10. 24
    Appendix 2 - What must be recorded on the MAR
  11. 25
    Appendix 3 - Staff guidance and procedures for over the counter products for general use
  12. 26
    Appendix 4 -As Required “PRN” Medication Guidance
  13. 27
    Appendix 5 - PRN Medication Administration Record (MAR) - In conjunction with PRN protocol Gloucestershire Shared Lives

16.1

The National Patient Safety Agency defines a medication error as

“A patient safety incident involving medicines in which there has been an error in the process of prescribing, dispensing, preparing, administering, monitoring, or providing medicine advice, regardless of whether any harm occurred” 
16.2

The National Patient Safety Agency defines a medication error as “A patient safety incident involving medicines in which there has been an error in the process of prescribing, dispensing, preparing, administering, monitoring, or providing medicine advice, regardless of whether any harm occurred” 
16.3

If an error occurs, carers will:

  • immediately seek and follow advice from the person’s GP, the NHS 111 helpline, a pharmacist or Accident and Emergency as appropriate
  • record on the PRN MAR/ MAR sheet what occurred, any changes to the person’s health or behaviour and all actions taken
  • advise GSL without delay of what happened and follow advice from the GSL officer
  • complete a medication error form and send it to GSL 
16.4

GSL has a duty of candour. We will tell people and / or their representatives / family if there has been a medication error and offer an apology. We will tell people about any notifiable incident (please see also paragraph 17.2 below) and the outcomes of investigations into the incident. 
16.5

GSL will take all medication errors seriously. If recurring medication errors and/or medication recording error are reported or evidenced during GSL audits/review, GSL will work with the carers to provide resolution and safeguard the person in their care.
16.6

Medication errors and or recording errors may trigger the GSL performance and capability management procedure.  
Last reviewed:
Previous Side effects / adverse reactions Next Monitoring medication support arrangements / quality assurance