Pharmacist missed drug contraindications

Community pharmacists failing to identify critical drug contraindications due to confusion over clinical check duties.

189 items 8 sources 1 inquiry
Strongest theme matches

Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.

Indicative ranking
PFD report
73match
Kinga Cieciorska
Jun 2016 · Black Country
A missed opportunity to investigate abnormal ECG trace and tachycardia; systemic failings in recording and transmission of information, with GP medical notes not seen by the Junior Doctor; details of medication including the significance of the drug, Diclofenac, was not considered.
Matched on terms: drug, missed
PPO recommendation
73match
The Head of Healthcare, lead GP and lead pharmacist at HMP Wandsworth
The Head of Healthcare, lead GP and lead pharmacist should review the ‘homely remedies’ protocol to ensure that it makes reference to checking a prisoner’s prescribed medication to ensure no contraindications before the provision of a ‘homely remedy’.
Matched on terms: contraindication, pharmacist
PFD report
69match
Wayne O’Neill
Oct 2015 · Worcestershire
There was inadequate recognition of drug contraindications and dangerous psychotropic medication combinations, with no routine ECG monitoring performed despite expert recommendations, leading to significant risks.
Matched on terms: contraindication, drug
PFD report
69match
Sneh Chaudhry
Jun 2018 · London (West)
Drug confusion due to similar vial appearance between Fungizone and Ambisone, combined with passive nursing checks, created a risk of administering the wrong, more toxic medication.
Matched on terms: drug
Inquiry recommendation
69match
IHRD-25 - Drug Prescription Documentation
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
All instances of drug prescription and administration should be entered into the main clinical notes and paediatric pharmacists should monitor, query and, if necessary, correct prescriptions. In the event of correction the pharmacist should inform the prescribing clinician.
Matched on terms: drug, pharmacist
PFD report
65match
Teresa Lonergan
Mar 2014 · London (Inner South)
The patient accumulated a dangerous hoard of prescribed controlled drugs due to a lack of monitoring by healthcare professionals, enabling a fatal overdose.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
65match
Mary Bloom
Oct 2015 · East London
Trust policy on heparin administration was not followed, including failure to weigh the patient, consult haematology, or take post-hydration bloods. Critical dosage advice for underweight patients was also easily missed due to poor visibility on posters.
Matched on terms: missed
PFD report
65match
Gabriele Kreichgauer
Feb 2019 · London Inner (South)
The patient was discharged without antibiotics due to missed checks, and an incorrect diagnosis from an internet resource led to ineffective treatment. The resource also lacked a clinician feedback mechanism for inaccuracies.
Matched on terms: missed
Committee recommendation
62match
#26 - English pharmacists twice as likely to prescribe antibiotics for sore throats than Welsh counterparts.
Public Accounts Committee
Under the Pharmacy First scheme introduced in early 2024, patients can now consult pharmacists directly for several minor illnesses and conditions that previously required a GP visit and the pharmacist can prescribe medicines if necessary. NHS England commented that early evidence from Pharmacy First was that GPs were following the relevant protocols, and it had not seen any...
Matched on terms: pharmacist
PFD report
61match
Carol Ann Gibson
Oct 2013 · Cheshire
A GP ignored a critical adverse drug reaction alert, exacerbated by a culture of 'alert fatigue' and dismissive attitudes towards patient safety warnings within the medical practice.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
61match
Michael Anthony
Apr 2014 · London (Inner South)
The coroner noted that the deceased's Gabapentin level was five times the normal therapeutic level, the reason for which was undetermined, and that the drug is usually not prescribed in diabetics due to the risk of severe reaction.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
61match
Pauline Pryor
Jan 2018 · Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Critical communication failures between the nursing home and GP, an inadequate system for monitoring lithium toxicity, and an unread consultant email led to missed essential blood tests and unmanaged medication changes.
Matched on terms: missed
PFD report
61match
Jennifer Lacey
Oct 2018 · London Inner (West)
Concerns were raised about dangerous, addictive drugs being freely available online and prescribed by foreign doctors without patient contact or GP record access, potentially filled by UK pharmacies without adequate checks.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Kerry Jacobs
Mar 2014 · West Sussex
The hospital lacked a policy requiring doctors to document reasons for prescribing medication outside BNF guidelines. There was also no protocol for pharmacists and clinicians to discuss queried medication dosages.
Matched on terms: pharmacist
PFD report
57match
Dafydd Watts
Apr 2014 · Avon
Drug literature and the British National Formulary fail to adequately inform physicians about rare but potential fatal occurrences associated with medication.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Andre Mickley
Jun 2015 · Lincolnshire (Central)
Product information for SSRI drugs fails to adequately inform prescribers about potential adverse pharmacokinetic interactions with cocaine and other illicit substances, or to advise patients to seek caution.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Richard Breatnach
Sep 2016 · Brighton and Hove
Online medication prescribing allowed applicants to provide false information without verification, leading to excessive and inappropriate prescription of an addictive drug without patient contact or correct guidance.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Stuart Walls
Dec 2017 · East Riding and Kingston Upon Hull
The patient died from a synergistic toxic effect of multiple prescribed drugs, each within therapeutic range, affecting the central nervous system and respiration. Prescribing practices need to account for cumulative drug interactions.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Theresa Feehan
Feb 2019 · London Inner (West)
The practice's medication review system was inadequate, with outdated patient records and poor correlation between problem lists and prescribed drugs. This led to dangerous medications being continued and a lack of proper rationale for prescribing.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Mohammed Ahmed
Mar 2019 · Suffolk
Combined use of Olanzapine and Spice caused a fatal allergic reaction, yet Olanzapine continued to be prescribed. Clinicians may lack national awareness of serious drug interactions and side effects with Olanzapine.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Deborah Chapman
Aug 2019 · Manchester (South)
Medical records failed to show adequate inquiry into illicit drug misuse, preventing informed risk assessments for prescribing medications with known respiratory side effects, and lacked a system for recording such information.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
57match
Mary Nelson
Feb 2020 · Cumbria
Dangerous fluoxetine accumulation suggests a need to revise dosage guidance, especially for the elderly, and consider in-life drug testing. This death was also not reported to the Yellow Card system.
Matched on terms: drug
PFD report
53match
Tripta Rani Kumar
Sep 2013 · London Eastern
A patient with a documented penicillin allergy was prescribed penicillin-containing medication after a critical allergy note was incorrectly overwritten without authorisation, creating a serious risk of anaphylaxis.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
John Michael Bailey
Sep 2013 · South Yorkshire (West)
Date of report: 09/09/2013 Ref: 2013-0198 Deceased name: John Michael Bailey Coroners name: Jullian Fox Coroners Area: South Yorkshire (West) Category: Community health care and emergency services related deaths This report is being sent to: Department of Health and Social Care
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Joseph Godfrey
Mar 2014 · London (East)
Care staff and paramedics lacked awareness of warfarin-related bleeding risks in elderly fall patients. Care home staff failed to follow observation protocols, document checks, or access medical history, and BUPA's investigation was insufficient.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Peter Rowe
Jun 2016 · Manchester (South)
A patient with severe memory loss was prescribed penicillin despite a documented allergy, which was later deleted. Allergy information was accepted uncritically from the patient and an uninformed spouse.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Edward Mallen
Sep 2016 · Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
A GP prescribed medication based on advice from a non-prescribing nurse without adequately informing the patient about critical side effects or support contacts. GPs also lacked awareness of available psychiatrist consultation.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Theresa Thompson
Apr 2017 · Cornwall and Isle of Scilly
A post-splenectomy patient died from Streptococcus pneumonia due to lack of lifelong antibiotic prophylaxis and vaccination. Mixed messages about antibiotic use may deter patients from accepting crucial preventative treatments.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Paul Ryley
Sep 2018 · Birmingham and Solihull
Unclear Toxbase guidelines for paracetamol overdose re-presentations lead clinicians to misunderstand their applicability, risking patients not receiving crucial treatment for liver toxicity.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Christopher Summerhayes
Aug 2019 · South Wales Central
Complex polypharmacy involving Clozapine led to severe side effects and potential misinterpretation of overdose symptoms, while a possible contraindicating familial lipid disorder was not confirmed.
Matched on classifier match
PPO recommendation
48match
The Head of Healthcare, the lead GP and the senior pharmacist at HMP Wandsworth
The Head of Healthcare, the lead GP and the senior pharmacist should review the glyceryl trinitrate and aspirin PGDs to ensure that staff are able to use these emergency medications in all situations where they are indicated and ensure that the inclusion criteria takes account of the additional presentation of a cardiac event without pain in diabetic patients.
Matched on terms: pharmacist
IMB recommendation
48match
Cardiff (2025)
How will the Health Board ensure that prescribing checks at HMP Cardiff are resolved quickly, given that the pharmacists’ job-sharing arrangement prevents in-prison checks?
Matched on terms: pharmacist
PFD report
45match
Bertram Hamilton
Feb 2014 · Black Country
The coroner was concerned that a nurse appeared not to know that insulin should not be given to a person whose blood sugars were so low.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Nicos Michael
Apr 2014 · Kent (North-East)
The coroner identified conflicting evidence regarding the deceased's recorded allergies, noting a lack of readily available and continuously updated allergy information for hospital staff, and that electronic prescribing was not compulsory.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Akua Anokye-Boateng
May 2014 · London (Inner South)
The report raises concerns about the use of NSAIDs in children with sickle cell disease, specifically regarding the potential for a single dose to cause GI damage and the lack of clear guidance on gastro-intestinal protection measures.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Lisa Webb
May 2014 · London (Inner South)
Sub-optimal asthma management by the GP involved failure to assess asthma history, unrecorded vital signs, lack of objective measurements (peak flow/oximetry), and an inappropriate Diazepam prescription.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
John Day
Jun 2014 · Isle of Wight
Out-of-hours doctors lack crucial access to patient medical records, particularly allergy information, increasing the risk of incorrect medication prescriptions when patients provide inaccurate details or lack capacity.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Jessica Bond
Jun 2014 · Essex
Propess was inappropriately administered to a patient with a prior caesarean section, despite the known risk of uterine rupture and associated complications.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Christopher Davies
Sep 2014 · North Wales (East & Central)
Insufficient communication to patients and staff regarding the interaction between clozapine, caffeine, and smoking, as well as warning signs of toxicity.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Beryl Walters
Nov 2014 · Black Country
Cyclizine, a medication with known cardiac risks in severe heart failure, was unnecessarily administered despite a safer alternative being available, posing avoidable patient harm.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Marjorie Ellery
Nov 2014 · Surrey
Medication was administered to a patient with a known allergy without appropriate senior medical advice, and the consent obtained for this treatment was not informed consent.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Isaac Bahar
Jun 2015 · Brighton and Hove
A patient with advanced kidney disease was fatally prescribed Codeine, directly breaching hospital policy and national guidance on medication for vulnerable patients.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Lynn Poyser
Jul 2015 · South Lincolnshire
Existing guidance for co-prescribing Lisinopril and Spironolactone may not sufficiently highlight the risks of renal deterioration and hyperkalaemia, indicating a need for more caution and a holistic patient view.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Dorothy Delaney
Sep 2015 · Manchester (West)
The concurrent prescription of antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications without specialist advice contradicted national guidelines, significantly increasing haemorrhage risk, especially given the patient's amyloid angiopathy.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Irene Pearson
Jan 2016 · Manchester (South)
Matrifen patch warnings about hot baths are obscure and vague, and dangerous advice was given to use baths for patch removal. Poor liaison on opiate prescribing and unclear, scanty GP electronic notes contributed to unsafe care.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Patricia Thomas
Mar 2016 · Swansea
A significant lack of awareness among health professionals regarding the dangerous interaction between Miconazole Gel and Warfarin, combined with unclear information resources, risks uncontrolled bleeding.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Charles Rendell
Jan 2017 · Berkshire
There is inadequate communication to patients and prescribing clinicians about Ciprofloxacin's rare but serious side effect of suicidal ideation. This lack of awareness prevents timely recognition and appropriate reaction to potential symptoms.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Claire Medhurst
Aug 2017 · Mid Kent and Medway
The discharge process lacked crucial cautionary advice on medication use, and treating clinicians failed to receive alerts for abnormal liver function and toxic paracetamol levels.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Paul Mullen
Nov 2017 · Manchester (West)
The "red flag system" for reporting uncollected methadone prescriptions is ineffective; reports don't reach key workers directly, delaying intervention. Lack of shared systems between partner organisations further hinders communication.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Chand Ali
Mar 2019
Cyclizine, cautioned for severe heart failure, is routinely administered without individual risk assessment or monitoring of adverse outcomes. There has been no review of alternative antiemetics.
Matched on classifier match