Most commonly reported prescribing error types
| Drug involved | Overview of incident | Frequency N (%) | Specific error type | Frequency N (%) |
| Amoxicillin | Prescribed when contraindicated due to allergy | 16 (4.8) | Prescribed in penicillin allergy | 15 (4.5) |
| Prescribed in cephalosporin allergy | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Co-amoxiclav | Prescribed when contraindicated due to allergy | 15 (4.5) | Prescribed in penicillin allergy | 15 (4.5) |
| Insulin | Prescribed incorrect type | 11 (3.3) | Prescribed incorrect type of long acting insulin | 3 (0.9) |
| Prescribed short/rapid acting insulin instead of mixed insulin | 3 (0.9) | |||
| Unknown | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Prescribed short/rapid acting insulin instead of long acting insulin | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Prescribed incorrect type of mixed insulin | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Prescribed two long-acting insulins simultaneously | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Prescription omitted | 10 (3.0) | Unknown | 3 (0.9) | |
| Insulin not documented in medicines reconciliation | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Insulin not prescribed on transfer to rehabilitation unit | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Insulin prescribed once daily instead of twice daily | 1 (0.3) | |||
| No subcutaneous insulin prescribed on discontinuation of intravenous insulin | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Insulin inappropriately withheld due to concerns re hypoglycaemia | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Gentamicin | Prescribed incorrect dose | 7 (2.1) | Dose calculated using incorrect weight | 2 (0.6) |
| Dose too high | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Dose calculated using outdated blood results | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Dose calculated using eGFR instead of creatinine | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Dose prescribed in excess of maximum daily dose | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Incorrect drug monitoring | 7 (2.1) | Level not taken post administration | 6 (1.8) | |
| Level taken too early post administration | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Prescribed incorrect dosage frequency | 6 (1.8) | Prescribed 24 hourly instead of 48 hourly | 2 (0.6) | |
| Prescribed without checking level <1 in patient with renal impairment | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Prescribed 48 hourly instead of 24 hourly | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Prescribed 12 hourly instead of 24 hourly | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Vancomycin | Prescribed incorrect dose | 5 (1.5) | Loading dose prescribed instead of maintenance dose | 2 (0.6) |
| Dose too high | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Dose too low | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Paracetamol | Duplication of therapy | 5 (1.5) | Prescribed regularly and as required | 2 (0.6) |
| Prescribed alongside co-codamol | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Prescribed alongside co-dydramol | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Enoxaparin | Prescribed without indication | 5 (1.5) | Prescribed when patient already anticoagulated | 3 (0.9) |
| Prescribed for incorrect patient | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Prescribed in line with outdated guidelines | 1 (0.3) | |||
| Warfarin | Prescription omitted | 5 (1.5) | Unknown | 4 (1.2) |
| Not prescribed on transfer to rehabilitation unit | 1 (0.3) |