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Administered the wrong medication

Posted By carriem74

"Administered the wrong medication"

About: University Hospital Hairmyres / Medicine for the Older Adult (wards 13 - 16)

(as a relative),

During my mother's time on the ward she was administered the wrong medication containing a penicillin product and suffered adverse effects of same. Her notes clearly state she has an allergy to penicillin. As she also suffers from severe anxiety she became severely distressed.

The administering staff simply stated that they hadn't been concentrating, as other patients had been shouting for attention. A senior staff member stated that mistakes happen. I am shocked and appalled at this flippant, blase attitude towards a grave error, which could have had far worse consequences, as well as extremely disappointed in the poor standards of care.

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Responses

Response from Lise Axford, Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 2 years ago
Lise Axford
Chief of Nursing, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 26/08/2022 at 15:20
Published on Care Opinion at 15:20

picture of Lise Axford

Dear carriem74

Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your mother's medication error. Firstly, I would like to apologise that this has happened to your mother. I would like to assure you that all medication errors are taken very seriously and there is a clear process that initially focusses on the patient themselves and any adverse effects in relation to the medication. The investigation then proceeds to understand the factors that have contributed to the error, any process issues, learning and staff reflection of the incident.

When staff are involved in an any type of error, it is also very distressing for them and I would be very surprised if any of our staff regard a medication incident in a blase or flippant manner. Staff themselves are supported through such incidents to learn and understand.

If you would like to discuss the drug error further then please contact patient affairs to give your details.

Again, I would like to offer my sincere apologies that this error has happened and I am pleased to know that there were no adverse effects for your mother..

kind regards

Lise

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by carriem74 (a relative)

Thank you for your response. May I reiterate the response was indeed blase and flippant;I am not in the habit of telling untruths nor am I in any way impaired of hearing- I heard the response to my concerns quite clearly. Again, the response was blase and flippant. Sadly, my mother has passed away and I am understandably upset that in the last week of her life she suffered unnecessarily. I have passed my concerns on to the NMC. Thank you again for your response.

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