Medication safety Oxford home care providers must prioritise — and new national research shows exactly why. A study from the universities of York, Sheffield, and Manchester revealed a striking finding. Medication mistakes occur 237 million times a year across UK health and social care settings.
The Scale of Medication Errors in the UK
The research highlighted a concerning picture. Most mistakes did not cause serious harm. However, 28% of errors resulted in moderate or severe harm. Furthermore, the study found that medication errors may contribute to more than 22,000 deaths each year.
Speaking to the BBC, Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt acknowledged the severity of the problem. He noted that the UK performs in line with other countries. He also proposed two approaches to improvement: a stronger culture of acknowledging mistakes, and better IT support. According to NHS guidance on medicines safety, accurate record-keeping and clear communication are essential to preventing errors.
What Visiting Angels Oxford Does to Ensure Medication Safety
Dan Archer of Visiting Angels responded directly to the findings. He said: “It is unacceptable that anyone should suffer because of mistakes in routine medication. Our business trains caregivers in understanding medication and the importance of correct record keeping around medication.”
In addition, he stressed the importance of accountability. He added: “We have created a culture in the organisation of recognising that human error can be a factor. However, we ensure total transparency and maintain responsibility.”
Why Longer Care Visits Reduce Medication Risk
Some experts argue that a culture of openness and improved IT systems can reduce errors. Others in the health and social care sector, however, point to staff shortages and time pressure as a far greater cause.
Dan Archer addressed this directly. He explained: “Our caregivers do not do visits shorter than one hour. While the social care system deems 15-minute and 30-minute visits acceptable, the pressure placed on too few people to do too much in too short a time will lead to mistakes. Our organisation has taken a stand to say we need the time to care. The NHS and the majority of care home and domiciliary care providers do not work in this way.”
Indeed, other sector leaders echo these concerns. Royal College of Nursing CEO Janet Davies said that human error is “one of the biggest risks” in care. She also noted that overstretched nursing staff and agency workers put “added risk” into the system. Nevertheless, she stressed that errors are not inevitable with the right staffing and support in place.
Medication Safety in Oxford: Our Commitment
Medication safety Oxford families rely on starts with trained, unhurried, accountable carers. At Visiting Angels Oxford, every carer receives thorough training in medication management, record-keeping, and safe care procedures. Moreover, our minimum one-hour visits mean carers always have the time they need to get things right.
To find out more about our home care services in Oxford, call us on 01865 410 791 or email oxford@visiting-angels.co.uk.
