Data from Manx Care has revealed 63 dispensing errors in primary and acute care between November 2022 and April 2025.
Fortunately, the majority caused no harm to patients.
The figures, recorded in the ‘Datix’ system, show 41 incidents in primary care and 22 in acute care.
In primary care, 36 errors resulted in no harm, three caused low harm, and two led to moderate harm. Acute care reported 20 incidents with no harm and two with low harm.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) stated it does not collect data on incorrect prescriptions issued by private prescribers, as they are regulated under the Medicines Act 2003.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Ms Christian, said: “The process of checking and dispensing prescriptions in a pharmacy is outlined in standard operating procedures.”
She noted that pharmacies record “near miss incidents” and errors reaching patients, with lessons shared in team meetings.
Anonymised
Manx Care’s Medicines Optimisation Team reviews trends and distributes a quarterly newsletter with anonymised incident data. Actions taken after errors include investigations, training, and policy reviews.
However, data for the full five-year period requested by Arbory, Castletown, and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse was unavailable, as the pre-2022 system was decommissioned.
Community pharmacies report incidents to Manx Care, which are then logged in Datix.
The minister added: “All incidents involving incorrect medication should be subject to team meetings within the pharmacy so that all staff can learn from them.”
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