Dumfries & Galloway Health Board
Prescribing Support Team

Significant Event Analysis

A significant event is a form of audit and offers opportunity for cpd and improvements to patient care. An event should be chosen for analysis because:

a) It has impacted on the quality or safety of patient care, or
b) It is thought to be important in the life or conduct of the practice/pharmacy, or
c) It may offer some insight into the care process or systems in the practice/pharmacy.

The discussion and analysis of a significant event should conducted in a non-threatening environment and is focused on reflective learning and taking action, where necessary. All submitted significant event analyses are treated in strictest confidence. Any identifiable information (names of individuals, surgeries, hospitals etc.) should be omitted from event analysis reports in order to preserve anonymity.

Some examples of significant events are:
Failure to pass on information, Message not acted on, Wrong information given to patient, Missed diagnosis & management, patient complaints, upset staff etc.

Guidance on significant event analysis

A significant event should be chosen for analysis because a) It has impacted on the quality or safety of patient care, or, b) It is thought to be important in the life or conduct of the practice, or c) It may offer some insight into the care process or systems in the practice.

29 Jan 08