Events
A forum for individuals to discuss challenges and successes to inform and inspire medication safety initiatives across the system.
MSATS – Safe use of medicines in palliative and end of life care
24 September 2025Discussion of medication safety challenges within palliative and end of life care; inspiring partnership across the system.
Safer use of time critical medicines
1 July 2025Sharing what has been learnt so far from the national safer use of time critical medicines programme, including improvement interventions.
MSATS – Safe use of valproate
28 February 2024Discussion of key current medication safety challenges within healthcare with a focus on the safe use of valproate; inspiring partnership across the system
MSATS - Safe Use of DOACs
30 October 2024Discussion of key current medication safety challenges within healthcare with a focus on the safe use of DOACs; inspiring partnership across the system.
Medication safety across the system: time critical medicines
28 June 2023Discussion of key current medication safety challenges within healthcare with a focus on time critical medicines; inspiring partnership across the system.
Managing complexities of medication use across care boundaries
26 June 2024Exploring the risks for patients on complex or specialist medicines moving across care boundaries with a focus on strategies to reduce harms
Medication Safety Updates
A summary of recent practice communications reports, publications and safe medication practice research, including emerging issues pertinent to medication safety.
Medication Safety Update
23 December 2025A resource collating the latest medication safety communications and publications to inform, support and inspire medication safety improvements.
Managing the risks of specific medicines
Identifying known risks associated with specific medications and mitigation strategies to prevent harm
Ensuring the safe use of amphotericin B injection
25 November 2025Amphotericin B liposomal products and Fungizone are not interchangeable. Take action to prevent death caused by inadvertent mis-selection
Ensuring time critical use of rasburicase
9 September 2025Timely use of rasburicase for treatment of tumour lysis syndrome is essential. Mitigation strategies can minimise harm associated with delayed therapy.
Minimising risks associated with administration of injectable iron
14 August 2025Administration of injectable iron has a risk of hypersensitivity and skin staining. Mitigation strategies can help minimise harm.
Managing the risk of confusion between injectable iron products
14 August 2025Minimising the risk of confusion between different injectable iron products may prevent inadvertent harm.
MSATS – Safe use of valproate
28 February 2024Discussion of key current medication safety challenges within healthcare with a focus on the safe use of valproate; inspiring partnership across the system
Developing insulin safety across a system
12 June 2025Strategies, signposting and initiatives to support safer use of insulin.
Developing opioid safety across a system
2 June 2025Strategies and signposting to support safer use of opioids for chronic, non-cancer pain.
Assessing injectables for enteral administration
30 April 2025Clinical decisions on the use of injectable formulations for enteral administration should be guided by safety and practicality.
Accessing resources for patients on high risk medicines
9 April 2025A number of resources are available to support the safe use of high-risk medicines. Healthcare professionals should ensure they are available for their patients
Using potassium permanganate for skin conditions or wound care
4 April 2025Potassium permanganate is a chemical product. We review the evidence for using it in wound care and highlight the risk of severe harm associated with wrong use.
Other medication safety material
Defining time critical medicines
18 December 2025A resource to support healthcare professionals in defining time critical medicines to support safety improvements.
Improving the safe use of time critical medicines
18 December 2025A resource to support healthcare professionals in taking action to improve the safe use of time critical medicines.
Understanding time critical medicines to support improvement
18 December 2025Understanding time critical medicines can support improvement initiatives and promote engagement.
Managing medicines safely in clinical areas
17 December 2025Medicines-related processes in clinical areas must be designed to minimise the risk of medication errors and patient harm.
Understanding design for safety in medicines packaging and labels
17 December 2025Understanding principles and limitations of good design can support the safer use of medicines. Consideration of these principles in practice can reduce harms.
Managing medicines safely in pharmacy
17 December 2025Processes for ordering, storage, selection and labelling of medicines in pharmacy must be designed to minimise the risk of medication errors and patient harm.
Preventing errors on the medicine journey
17 December 2025A series of articles on preventing medicine errors arising from incorrect selection or handling during a medicine’s journey from purchasing to the patient.
Purchasing for safety
17 December 2025Understanding principles of purchasing for safety can support the safer use of medicines. Consideration of these principles in practice can minimise harms.
Multiple Use of Injectable Medicines in Clinical Areas
15 December 2025Multiple use of injectable medicines is associated with an increased risk of microbial contamination
Safer use of time critical medicines programme
27 November 2025An update on the programme's progress, including the quality improvement collaborative, wider community of practice and related outputs.
Handling injectable cytotoxic medicines in clinical areas
17 November 2025Handling of injectable cytotoxic medicines in clinical areas should take into account risks to staff
Including medicines with Risk Minimisation Measures (RMM) in PGDs
10 November 2025Medicines with RMM may not be suitable for inclusion within Patient Group Directions (PGDs). If used, the RMM must be stated within the PGD.
Understanding when a check adds value to medication processes
24 October 2025Understanding what a check is, the principles of an effective check and factors to consider if introducing a check to a medication process.
Addressing medication safety inequalities across the system
31 July 2025Strategies and signposting to support actions to address medication safety inequalities.
Understanding why temperature management is important for medicines storage
25 July 2025Temperature control and monitoring of storage areas to avoid temperature excursions; ensuring medicines are fit for purpose at administration to patients
Managing the risks of using effervescent tablets in children
17 April 2025Careful use of effervescent or soluble tablets to deliver part tablet doses for children and neonates can minimise risks of toxicity or suboptimal therapy.
Worked example of assessing the risk of transcribing
28 January 2025Example where medicines are prescribed by both the patient’s GP and specialist clinicians, and are administered in a patient’s home.
Risk assessing transcribing for administration
28 January 2025Various factors affect the risks associated with using transcribing for medicines administration.
Assessment and storage of medicines for self-administration
17 January 2025Suitable medicines must be stored safely and securely in accordance with organisational policy, while still supporting self-administration
Implementing self-administration of medicines
18 November 2024Individuals receiving healthcare should be supported to continue to self-administer existing/new medications unless there are reasons why they are unable to
Self-administration of medicines
18 November 2024Self-administering medicines in all care settings and at home can benefit both individuals and organisations; it should be encouraged where safely achievable
Safe management of therapeutic drug monitoring
17 October 2024Organisations must ensure safe management systems are in place to support the management of drugs requiring therapeutic drug monitoring.
Giving intermittent intravenous infusions by gravity in adults
6 September 2024Infusion by gravity is not the preferred method of administration, but may be necessary in some circumstances. Ensure a risk assessment is undertaken.
Investigating suspected tampering with medicines
11 June 2024A systematic approach should be taken to responding to reports of possible malicious tampering, securing the evidence, and seeking specialist advice and support
Developing Medication Safety Across The System (MSATS)
3 April 2024Medication Safety Across the System (MSATS) provides resources and networking to inspire and equip individuals in promoting the safe use of medicines.
The Medication Safety Officer (MSO) role
13 March 2024Understanding the role and responsibilities of the MSO in practice will assist organisations in delivering their medication safety agenda
Preventing parenteral nutrition rapid over-infusion in babies
10 August 2023There is a risk of severe harm or death if PN is unintentionally infused too rapidly in babies. Healthcare professionals need to ensure safe practice.
Using the Medication Safety Update effectively
25 January 2023Effective use provides assurance that an organisation is aware of the most critical medication safety related information, and acts on this to improve safety
Communication opportunities to improve medication safety
25 January 2023Effective communication allows for timely responses to new and emerging medication risks and the sharing of potential safety solutions.
Collaboration opportunities to improve medication safety
15 December 2022Practical guidance on effective collaboration opportunities to promote medication safety improvements