Source
Clinical Risk Unit, Department of Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. c.vincent@ucl.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To examine the feasibility of detecting adverse events through record review in British hospitals and to make preliminary estimates of the incidence and costs of adverse events.
DESIGN:
Retrospective review of 1014 medical and nursing records.
SETTING:
Two acute hospitals in Greater London area. Main outcome measure: Number of adverse events.
RESULTS:
110 (10.8%) patients experienced an adverse event, with an overall rate of adverse events of 11.7% when multiple adverse events were included. About half of these events were judged preventable with ordinary standards of care. A third of adverse events led to moderate or greater disability or death.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that adverse events are a serious source of harm to patients and a large drain on NHS resources. Some are major events; others are frequent, minor events that go unnoticed in routine clinical care but together have massive economic consequences.