Medication errors and administration failures

Medication errors remain one of the most significant and preventable risks across adult social care. They are a growing focus for regulators and an increasing driver of civil claims, reputational damage and enforcement action for both care home and domiciliary care providers.

As care becomes more complex and increasingly delivered across multiple settings, the margin for error continues to narrow. Providers must now demonstrate not only that medication is administered correctly but that strong governance underpins every stage of the process.

Why medication risk is rising

Several sector wide pressures are increasing the likelihood of medication related incidents across care services.

People are receiving care with higher levels of clinical complexity, often living with multiple long term conditions. Medication regimes are becoming more detailed, involving time critical doses, controlled drugs or specialist administration methods.

Polypharmacy is also increasing. Supporting individuals who take multiple medications heightens the risk of missed doses, duplication or adverse interactions, particularly where communication or records are unclear.

Regulators are also placing greater emphasis on record keeping accuracy. MAR charts, electronic records and audit trails are being scrutinised closely, with discrepancies frequently triggering wider concerns about safety and governance.

Key risk drivers across care services

Medication errors rarely stem from a single cause. They are usually the result of system pressures and operational weaknesses.

Common risk drivers include

• Staffing shortages leading to rushed or delayed medication administration
• Increased use of temporary or unfamiliar staff
• Poor MAR chart completion or version control
• Inadequate training for complex or changing medication regimes
• Interruptions during medication rounds or home visits

Where these issues overlap, the risk of error rises significantly.

The regulatory and legal impact

Medication failures are treated seriously by regulators due to their direct link to harm. Even where no injury occurs, poor controls can result in adverse inspection outcomes, improvement notices or restrictions being imposed.

From a civil claims perspective, medication errors are increasingly cited in negligence actions across both residential and community care. Inadequate records, missing signatures or unclear audit trails make defending claims far more challenging.

In many cases, it is not the original mistake but the lack of documented evidence that creates liability.

How strong medication governance reduces risk

Effective medication governance focuses on system design rather than individual blame.

Strong governance typically includes

• Clear medication policies applied consistently across services
• Robust MAR chart management supported by regular audits
• Ongoing competency based training for all care staff
• Protected medication processes with minimal interruptions
• Clear escalation and learning procedures for errors or near misses

These controls help reduce harm while also strengthening a provider’s position during inspections or claims investigations.

Moving from compliance to confidence

Medication safety is no longer solely a clinical issue. It is a core risk management concern that affects regulatory outcomes, insurance exposure and operational resilience across care settings.

Care providers who invest in robust medication governance protect the people they support, strengthen their teams and reduce their exposure to costly claims and enforcement action.

For practical support reviewing medication risk controls, governance processes or insurance arrangements, speak to the Quality Care Group risk team for advice tailored to your service.