HIQA calls for strengthening of medication safety auditing at Mayo hospital

DURING an announced inspection at Mayo University Hospital on August 24 last, HIQA found that the hospital had an established Drugs and Therapeutics Committee that provided governance and oversight of the medication management safety systems within the hospital.

The hospital had a medication safety strategy in place which was being actively progressed. A number of priority medication safety quality improvements had been implemented which were supported by policies.

However on the day of inspection, inspectors found that the hospital did not have a hospital wide drug formulary in place and there were limited clinical pharmacy services available in the hospital, including the paediatric and maternity wards.

Despite having a system for reporting medication incidents and near misses, reporting was low.

Current medication safety auditing arrangements should be strengthened and formalised with an audit plan to regularly provide assurance to the Mayo University Hospital Management Team about medication safety at the hospital.