How can trusts reduce medication duplication and error

Aaron Jackson, Solution Director for Medicines

How Can Trusts Reduce Medication Duplication and Error?

Aaron Jackson, Solution Director for Medicines at Orion Health, explores the common causes of medication duplication and error in the NHS, and outlines practical steps Trusts can take to reduce harm, waste, and inefficiencies.

Reducing Medication Duplication and Error in the NHS: A Digital Path Forward

Medication duplication and error remain significant challenges for NHS Trusts, particularly at transitions of care. With no single integrated medication record, patients often experience omission, commission, and transcription errors that can lead to harm, waste, and increased costs.

Why Errors Happen

Errors typically occur when:

• Previous medications are unintentionally omitted
• Discontinued drugs are re-prescribed
• Drug names, doses, or formulations are misrecorded

These mistakes are most common during admissions and discharges, when communication and data sharing are most vulnerable.

The Power of Medicines Reconciliation

Medicines reconciliation is a proven intervention to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety. It involves:

• Verifying a complete, up-to-date medication list
• Supporting clinicians to make informed prescribing decisions
• Identifying and resolving discrepancies early

However, this process is complex and time-consuming, especially in high-pressure environments like emergency departments.

Glasgow’s Digital Success Story

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde has pioneered an admission-to-discharge medicines reconciliation workflow using Orion Health technology:

• Pulls in data from multiple sources, including GP records
• Tracks medication changes throughout the hospital stay
• Automatically updates the discharge summary
• Improves clinician confidence and speeds up discharges

This model ensures patients receive safer, more coordinated care across settings.

Building Interoperable Medication Platforms

To reduce medication errors system-wide, NHS Trusts must invest in interoperable solutions that allow medication records to follow the patient across the care continuum. Orion Health’s Medication Management platform does precisely this, consolidating medications from various systems into a single, accurate view, with duplicate detection, patient access, and secure sharing.

A Strategic Opportunity for NHS Trusts

Digitally enabling medication reconciliation and management can help Trusts to:

• Improve patient safety
• Reduce discharge delays
• Support clinical workflows
• Deliver joined-up care

By adopting shared, interoperable medication platforms, Trusts take a vital step toward delivering safer, smarter healthcare for all.