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| Hospital drugs mix-up highlighted in Betsi Cadwaladr report | Hospital drugs mix-up highlighted in Betsi Cadwaladr report |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hospital procedures have been tightened after a patient received daily doses of a drug normally taken weekly. | |
| The "serious incident" is highlighted in a report on the pharmacy service to Betsi Cadwaladr health board which manages NHS care in north Wales. | The "serious incident" is highlighted in a report on the pharmacy service to Betsi Cadwaladr health board which manages NHS care in north Wales. |
| Methotrexate is prescribed as chemotherapy for certain cancers but can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. | Methotrexate is prescribed as chemotherapy for certain cancers but can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. |
| The health board said the patient had not been harmed. | |
| The report did not identify the hospital involved in the incident last year. | |
| Induction training for prescribers and nurses now includes the use of the drug, the report said. | Induction training for prescribers and nurses now includes the use of the drug, the report said. |
| "Methotrexate is usually taken once weekly and can cause significant harm if administered daily," it said. | "Methotrexate is usually taken once weekly and can cause significant harm if administered daily," it said. |
| There is now guidance for nurses not to administer it unless the prescription has been checked by a pharmacist. | There is now guidance for nurses not to administer it unless the prescription has been checked by a pharmacist. |
| A health board spokesman said: "We take patient safety very seriously so we reviewed the training and policy for all staff regarding this drug to ensure that learning is shared and that future incidents are avoided." | |
| The report by chief pharmacist Dr Berwyn Owen also revealed that during 2017-18, 21,000 medicines no longer needed by patients were stopped, helping to save more than £9m. | The report by chief pharmacist Dr Berwyn Owen also revealed that during 2017-18, 21,000 medicines no longer needed by patients were stopped, helping to save more than £9m. |