Risk assessments are a comprehensive evaluation conducted to identify and mitigate potential hazards or risks that could impact the safety, well-being, and quality of life of service users, staff, and visitors. The assessment aims to ensure that the service provides a safe and secure environment conducive to the physical, mental, and emotional health of all individuals involved.

This risk assessment relates to the risk of medication error.

Errors can occur at different stages of the medication use process.

A medicines error is any patient safety incident, where there has been an error while:

• prescribing
• preparing
• dispensing
• administering
• monitoring
• providing advice on medicines

Medication errors are not the same as adverse drug reactions.

Medicine errors occur when weak medication systems or human factors affect processes.

Medicine errors can result in severe harm, disability and death.