Prescribing

Prescribing errors are a common cause of complaint or claims against GPs. An MPS survey of 1,000 consecutive clinical negligence claims against GPs showed that almost 20% (193 claims) were caused by prescribing errors.

The majority of these errors occur because either the wrong drug or dose is given to the patient, or there is a drug interaction or contraindication that the GP was not aware of. Studies show that in more than 60% of GP consultations the patient leaves with a prescription.

It is clearly important that these prescriptions are correct and that the patient goes on to take their medicine correctly. In this issue of GP Registrar we look at some of the problems that can occur, and suggest some ways of avoiding them.

Dr Angela Bramley