April 1st 2009 to March 31st 2010

Reducing Medication errors by 50% by2011/12Incidents involving medicines were the thirdlargest group (9%) of all incidents reported to theNational Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS)after patient accidents (35%) and treatment /procedure (9%) from a total of 811,746 incidentsof all types reported during 2007.Much work has been undertaken withinPharmacy to improve the safety of Medicineswithin the Trust. As stated in the previous year’sQuality Report we have continued to workwithin clinical professions encouraging a culturethrough which medication incidents are reportedin a timely manner. The number of medicationincidents that are reported is increasing asidentified in graph 7 below, thus acknowledgingthe increased awareness and commitment of staffto ensure that patient safety and professionalaccountability is maximised with the safemanagement of medicines within the Trust.Graph 7 Medication Errors2008/20092009/201070605040303651415226573850463937503563344550 494231 34 36554320100AprilMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDecJanFebMarchIncreased trainingThe Practice Development Sister has reviewed andupdated both the Administration of Medicinesand the Intravenous Administration of MedicinesTraining packages. These now include newprofessional standards, and reflect currentchanges in legislation and organisational policies.The training sessions have been increased tofurther engage professionals with the NationalPatient Safety Agency Alerts and the impact onensuring the safe delivery of medicines to inpatientsand outpatients.To ensure a collaborative and standardisedapproach to the safer management of medicinesthe training packages are now designed to meetthe needs of other Allied Health Professionals, andtraining is now provided for radiographers andphysiotherapists who administer medicines as partof their duties. This has developed a very interprofessionalapproach to medicines managementat all stages of the patients journey.The number of training sessions has beenincreased to monthly to allow access to theincreasing number of professional staff who areinvolved in medicines and to ensure that staffare equipped with the knowledge and skills thatensure medicines are administered to patientssafely.In response to the Nursing and Midwifery Council(NMC) requirements regarding Pre-registrationstudent nurses, training is provided at 1st 2ndand 3rd year stages of the students’ progressionthroughout the course. The Practice DevelopmentSister has ensured that the contents of thetraining packages not only reflect the learningoutcomes of the Higher Education Institution ateach key stage, but also ensure that at point ofregistration the student has met the essential skillsclusters and is prepared for practice.Medicines Management Training is given to allFY1 and FY2 Doctors as part of their InductionTraining on commencement with the Trust.The Administration of Medicines/MedicinesManagement Training has now becomeMandatory for nurses and allied healthprofessionals within the Trust.98Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals