Medicines are the most widely used intervention in health. Research evidence shows that medication errors and adverse drug reactions are common and associated with a high cost in terms of patient outcomes as well as financial consequences due to additional treatment or litigation. Medication safety is a core element of the priorities of the Medicines Optimisation team. Resources and information aligned to the ICB’s medication safety priorities may be found in the categories below, along with national mechanisms to report medicines-related incidents or adverse reactions:


The Yellow Card Scheme is used for the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (side effects) to any medicines and medical devices. It also includes any suspected defective or counterfeit medicines and medical devices.

Yellow Card | Making medicines and medical devices safer (mhra.gov.uk)

Research has shown that organisations who regularly report patient safety incidents have a stronger learning culture, where patient safety is a higher priority. For those working in primary care, you can report patient safety incidents using the national “Learn from patient safety events”(LFPSE) reporting service or through your locality’s incident reporting systems. 

•    Primary care information on the national LFPSE service:  LINK
•    To register and/or record a patient safety incident via LFPSE service: LINK
 

The Primary Care Patient Safety Strategy, first launched in September 2024 describes the national and local commitments to improve patient safety in primary care, supporting all areas in this sector to fully implement the NHS Patient Safety Strategy (2019). 

•    NHS England: Primary care patient safety strategy (2024) LINK

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