Bar codes urged to halt hospital errors

A LEADING hospital pharmacy chief has called for bar code systems to be introduced in all hospitals to reduce the number of medical errors.

While there are no national figures for drug administration errors in hospitals, an ongoing study at Tallaght Hospital logged 400 errors last year and is expected to record up to 500 this year.

Tim Delaney, the hospital’s pharmacy head, said there was no doubt unnecessary mistakes were being made and a bar code system would ensure patients would not be put in danger.