6,882 cases of incorrect or missed medication in 2010

ALMOST 7,000 incidents of medication errors by doctors and nurses were reported to the State Claims Agency (SCA) last year.

Figures from the SCA show that 6,882 separate incidents involving either incorrect or missed medication were reported in 2010 — a 17% decrease on the previous year.

Almost one fifth of cases involved patients being given the incorrect dosage, while 15% of incidents related to patients not being given their medication at the due time. A further 11% of cases were linked to mistakes in giving patients the wrong medicine.

A total of 35,510 events relating to medication safety were reported to the SCA’s Clinical Indemnity Scheme between 2004 and 2010, and 751 involved an adverse or allergic reaction to a known allergen.

About 20% of such reactions were attributed to medical staff prescribing or administrating Augmentin or Tazocin to patients with a known allergy to penicillin.

Over the seven-year period, such incidents resulted in 124 claims for compensation, although the vast majority of cases do not result in any patient harm.

Four hospital patients died during this period after receiving medication to which they had a known allergy. Two of the cases involved an allergy to penicillin.

The SCA acknowledged that a number of patients had to be hospitalised in intensive care units for lengthy hospital stays as a result of such errors.

The Clinical Identity Scheme paid out almost €50 million in medical negligence claims in 2009 — an average reward of €63,000.

A British study claimed the failure by medical staff to consider allergens when prescribing, dispensing and administering medication was the crucial contributory factor for such clinical mistakes. The same research showed that 50% of doctors and 35% of nurses stated they did not always check the allergy status of patients before giving them medication.

Meanwhile, the director of the SCA, Ciarán Breen, said plans by Health Minister James Reilly to introduce and pilot a no-fault compensation scheme for children who suffer catastrophic birth injuries would merit much consideration.

He said it was the SCA’s experience that families caring for such children generally receive “inadequate care packages” from the state.