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Award wining project is empowering patients and eliminating medication errors
15 November 2007
Millions of patients suffer harm each year due to medications prescribed in error. Through better communication between health professionals and with patients one hospital has almost completely eliminated medication errors.
By devising a patient-held booklet that carries details of all aspects of the individual's disease management and treatment, communications between professionals in different health settings have improved and most importantly people have been given more control over their own healthcare.
Over a 12-month period they found that the 72 percent medication error rate dropped dramatically to just two percent in a pilot study of 300 patients. This in turn led to a reduction in hospital admissions of the group assessed and showed improved clinical outcomes.
This fantastic achievement by Ms Margaret Ledger-Scott and her team at the Darlington Memorial Hospital has been recognised with the Bupa Foundation's annual Communication Award.
Christine Oates, clinical team leader, said: "We're delighted to win this Bupa Foundation award. Communication issues are really, really important to us and this money will definitely help us fund more research in future."
The vice-chairman of the Bupa Foundation, Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, said: "This award recognises the introduction of a simple booklet which empowers patients and reduces the risk of medication errors. This could be taken up by any hospital in the country."
Ms Ledger-Scott and team received their Bupa Foundation award at a ceremony at Lincoln's Inn in London on the evening of 14 November 2007.
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