All elements of prescription writing and drug administration are susceptible to error. Drug errors are an important cause of morbidity and mortality.

To assess the accuracy and clarity of inpatient drug prescriptions within the Brooklands Hospital and their compliance with the Trust medication prescribing policy.

To reduce the number of drug prescription errors which will subsequently diminish drug administration errors.

The currently used medication kardex of all adult inpatients were assessed in June 2010 (total 82 patients) and reassessed in September 2012 (total 74). An updated standard proforma obtained from the audit department was used to collect the data.

The patient ID number was present in 85% (vs 72%). The date of birth was noted in 95% of kardex. Allergies section has been filled in all kardex. The route, time and administration of regular medication were always written. All prescriptions were signed and dated. The number of charts were minimized in 97% (vs 87%). 100% of all multiple charts were numbered (vs 75%). All prescriptions for limited duration (eg: antibiotics) had an end date (vs 87%). The cancelled prescriptions were signed in 83% (vs 43%) and dated in 90% (vs 37%).

A global improvement was observed. Most improvement was observed in writing patients ID number, clarifying the end date of prescribed medication with limited durations and cancelled prescriptions being signed and dated. The process of auditing itself, pharmacist amendments and requests for clarification in addition to widespread circulation of policy could explain the above improvements.