‘Medication errors due to illegible prescriptions and low staff levels’

Illegible prescriptions and low staffing levels are considered by both doctors and nurses as two of the reasons why medication errors occur, new research shows.

In 2010, 6,882 medication errors were reported to the Clinical Indemnity Scheme.

Incorrect dosage was the most common error, followed by missed doses and incidents of administering incorrect medication. It is believed, however, that up to 90% of errors may not be reported.