An increasing number of medication incidents are due to calculation errors, and while numeracy tests may seem yet another hoop to jump through they are to help protect patient safety and your registration, and will likely become more common

With new co-dydramol products now available with a higher strength of opioid analgesic dihydrocodeine, prescribing and dispensing them by strength is vital to ensure patient safety and minimise the risk of accidental opiate overdose, says medicines management expert Matt Griffiths

As the registered nurse preparing medicines, you are ultimately responsible for making sure the patient takes them. If you delegate this task, make sure you have a system in place in which someone witnesses the patient take the medication so that doses are not omitted, says medicines management expert Matt Griffiths

Health professionals do not have the right to administer medication to patients against their will or in a covert manner. If a patient is refusing to take medication, find out why and try and negotiate with them, says medicines management expert Matt Griffiths

When patients bring their own medicines into hospital, it is important they are managed effectively. The following tips from medicines management expert Matt Griffiths will help ensure your patients get the right medicines at the right time, and that they are stored safely.

With a predicted doubling of influenza cases in the UK this year, it is more important than ever that front-line staff are vaccinated, says medicines management expert Matt Griffiths.