From next month, public acute hospitals are to be inspected to ensure that they are providing medication to their patients in a safe way.

Currently, it is estimated that on average, at least one medication error occurs per hospital patient every day. In other words, there could be as many as three million medication errors in Irish hospitals every year.

The inspections will be carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and according to Aoife Lenihan, lead inspector on the medication safety monitoring programme, medications are ‘the most commonly used intervention in healthcare'.

"Advances in medication usage continue to play a key role in improving patient treatment success. However, where medicines are used, the potential for error, such as in prescribing, administering or monitoring, also exists. While most medication errors do not result in patient harm, medication errors have, in some instances, the potential to result in catastrophic harm or death to patients," she explained.

As a result, medication safety has been identified ‘as a key focus for improvement' by a number of bodies in Ireland.

From early November, HIQA will begin a phased approach to the monitoring of medication safety in hospitals. Phase one will consist of one-day on-site announced inspections. Hospitals will receive notice of the intention to inspect 10 days prior.

"A phased approach will allow and encourage incremental improvement in the medication safety systems in place in public acute hospitals. The first phase will initially focus on the fundamental governance and structure requirements to support a medication safety programme. Further monitoring in subsequent phases will focus on specific structures and systems that have been proven to enhance the safety of medication use in healthcare," HIQA said.

As part of the inspections, hospital staff will be interviewed and clinical areas will be observed. Inspectors will also speak to patients.