Adverse events reporting in English hospital statistics
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《英国医生杂志》
EDITOR—Dr Foster's case notes on adverse events in hospitals make alarming reading for patients.1 However, evidence shows that involving patients as partners in decisions about and management of drug treatment acts as a safeguard against errors.
Patients who understand their drug treatment are better placed to pick up prescribing, dispensing, or administration errors. Documented examples include a vigilant mother who prevented her child being accidentally overdosed with insulin.2
Informed agreement about medicines, when risks and benefits are understood, reduces the possibility of patients varying their dose or taking "drug holidays."
Patients with several conditions treated by different specialists risk being prescribed drugs that interact. Currently, the best safeguard is for patients themselves to have a clear picture of all the drugs they are taking.
A thorough, open discussion of medicines is more likely to include over the counter and complementary remedies, which can interact with prescribed drugs.
The initiative Ask About Medicines Week (1-6 November) promotes partnership between medicine users, carers, and health professionals and is an important contribution to improving patients' safety. We aim to achieve lasting change by encouraging better communication, improving the depth and quality of medicines information, and changing expectations so that asking questions about medicines becomes the norm. This year the campaign will include a fold out, credit card sized record card for medicines—an important safety tool. Further information is available from www.askaboutmedicines.org
Joanne M Shaw, director, Melinda Letts, director
Ask About Medicines Week, London SE1 7JN
David Dickinson, chairman
david.dickinson@consumation.com, Ask About Medicines Week, London SE1 7JN
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Aylin P, Tanna S, Bottle A, Jarman B. Dr Foster's case notes. How often are adverse events reported in English hospital statistics? BMJ 2004;329: 369. (14 August.)
I stopped a nurse giving my son lethal insulin dose. Daily Mail 2002 May 23.
Patients who understand their drug treatment are better placed to pick up prescribing, dispensing, or administration errors. Documented examples include a vigilant mother who prevented her child being accidentally overdosed with insulin.2
Informed agreement about medicines, when risks and benefits are understood, reduces the possibility of patients varying their dose or taking "drug holidays."
Patients with several conditions treated by different specialists risk being prescribed drugs that interact. Currently, the best safeguard is for patients themselves to have a clear picture of all the drugs they are taking.
A thorough, open discussion of medicines is more likely to include over the counter and complementary remedies, which can interact with prescribed drugs.
The initiative Ask About Medicines Week (1-6 November) promotes partnership between medicine users, carers, and health professionals and is an important contribution to improving patients' safety. We aim to achieve lasting change by encouraging better communication, improving the depth and quality of medicines information, and changing expectations so that asking questions about medicines becomes the norm. This year the campaign will include a fold out, credit card sized record card for medicines—an important safety tool. Further information is available from www.askaboutmedicines.org
Joanne M Shaw, director, Melinda Letts, director
Ask About Medicines Week, London SE1 7JN
David Dickinson, chairman
david.dickinson@consumation.com, Ask About Medicines Week, London SE1 7JN
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Aylin P, Tanna S, Bottle A, Jarman B. Dr Foster's case notes. How often are adverse events reported in English hospital statistics? BMJ 2004;329: 369. (14 August.)
I stopped a nurse giving my son lethal insulin dose. Daily Mail 2002 May 23.