One in six patients issued wrong prescriptions by GPs

One in six patients issued wrong prescriptions by GPs

As many as one in six patients are likely to suffer due to erroneous prescriptions issued by their GPs, the General Medical Council (GMC) has revealed.

The study, based on 6000 prescriptions, said the worst-hit by wrong prescriptions are children and the elderly. The proportion of over-70s affected stood at 38%. 

The range of mistakes included: incomplete information; incorrect dosage, frequency, or timing; and in some cases, wrongly-prescribed medications.

However, according to the University of Nottingham’s medical school who compiled the official regulator’s report, most of the mistakes identified were minor, and would have been corrected by the pharmacist before the patients were given their medication.

Only four percent of the issues related to prescriptions were classed as “severe”.

Amongst other recommendations, the GMC suggested increasing the length of a GP appointment from ten minutes to 15, offering better training for GPs, and conducting more checks on their prescribing practice.

One thousand patients were involved in the study over a period of 12 months, and of them 18% experienced at least one mistake over the course of the period.

Poorna Rodrigo

More in Uncategorised

Travel in style with unforgettable company

The editorial unit

Discover Mijas Costa: Sun, adventure and unmatched comfort

The editorial unit

Spring stirrings: Why the season of bloom turns people a bit randy

The editorial unit

Gaming in movies: Ten titles that got it right

The editorial unit

Interactive entertainment in the UK: AI storytelling and gamified experience

The editorial unit

La Cocina

Selina Sondermann

Key trends in the auto finance market for 2025

The editorial unit

Ergonomic benefits of using portable triple monitors for laptops

The editorial unit

Interpreting “candlestick patterns” in bitcoin price charts

The editorial unit