This equates to people being diagnosed with diabetes at a rate of:
This costs the NHS:
A total of 37% of inpatients with diabetes included in the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit experienced at least one medication error, 26% at least one prescription error, and 20% at least one medication management error. (NaDIA)
Between August 2003 and August 2009 the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) received 3,881 wrong dose incident reports involving insulin.
Between January 2005 and July 2009 there were three deaths and 17 incidents reported where intravenous syringes were used to measure and administer insulin. (NaDIA)
Administering insulin incorrectly can be fatal, so training those prescribing and administering it is vitally important.
The Insulin Safety Suite is a collection of free* e-Learning courses specially designed for all healthcare professionals, as well as people with diabetes and their families.
In order to reduce insulin errors this course aims to provide learners with an increased understanding and awareness of insulin by promoting its safe and effective use.
Provides staff with the knowledge to manage hypoglycaemia effectively and identify strategies to help reduce its impact and improve patient quality of life.
Informs learners how to recognise the common errors associated with the use of III and understand the principles of its on-going management.
On completion of this course learners will have an increased awareness of contraindications and side effects of non-insulin therapies and an understanding of their safe implementation.
Provides learners with the knowledge of how to use insulin syringes, pen devices, pumps and sharps and how to dispose of them safely.