Recurring concern
Unsafe medication prescribing
First reported 5 May 2013•Latest report 25 Jun 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures involving the clinical appropriateness of prescribing or medication selection, including inadequate assessment of indication, patient circumstances, relevant information, alternatives or dose.
Not included
- Excludes failures limited to medication administration after an otherwise appropriate prescription.
- Excludes generic documentation, training or communication deficiencies unless they directly result in or are explicitly tied to an unsafe prescribing decision.
- Excludes dispensing, supply or monitoring failures that do not concern whether the medication prescription itself was clinically appropriate.
- Reports
- 121
- Individual concerns
- 151
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 246
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to account for the totality and synergistic effects of prescribed central nervous system and respiratory-depressant medication
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of awareness of Hydroxychloroquine toxic accumulation at recommended doses
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Seek expert pharmacovigilance advice on available evidence concerning hydroxychloroquine toxicity and the reported death.
Stated by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
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Concerns raised1
Failure to prescribe longer-acting rather than shorter-acting benzodiazepines for long-term use
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Request national mental health leads to write to all mental health trust medical directors and chief pharmacists, raising benzodiazepine prescribing and withdrawal risks and disseminating relevant guidance.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Change future prescribing practice regarding switching short-acting benzodiazepines to longer-acting alternatives.
Stated by Fremington Medical Centre
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
BAP guidance does not require universal substitution of shorter-acting benzodiazepines; prescribing choice and duration depend on individual clinical judgment.
Stated by NHS England
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Position
Switching to a long-acting benzodiazepine was not considered warranted in this case because clinical indications outweighed the risks.
Stated by Fremington Medical Centre
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Concerns raised1
Reliance of GP prescribing on receipt of hospital scan-result notification
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
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Action
Implement a streamlined DVT pathway directing suspected cases to radiology, initiating primary treatment before ultrasound, and ensuring positive and negative results receive appropriate follow-up.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHB -
Action
Record all suspected DVT referrals and follow up 48 hours later to confirm receipt of results.
Stated by RHAYADER GROUP PRACTICE -
Action
Review how inspections assess timely information transfer between services, using policy, medicines and clinical expertise.
Stated by Care Quality Commission
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Action
Revise and improve the wording of the Key Lines of Enquiry on information sharing during transfers between services.
Stated by Care Quality Commission -
Action
Have inspectors use two specific information-sharing questions when reviewing practice safety from November 2017.
Stated by Care Quality Commission
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Welsh Clinical Portal access was considered sufficient for the GP to review the patient's A&E attendance outcome despite the discharge summary issue.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHB
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Concerns raised1
Failure to limit the amount of antidepressant medication prescribed to patients with suicidal thoughts
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Require GPs to conduct repeat-prescription issuance and depression reviews.
Stated by Woodley Centre Surgery -
Action
Require the assessing or reviewing GP to add a major alert when concerned about a patient’s risk.
Stated by Woodley Centre Surgery -
Action
Discuss the significant event at the next clinical meeting.
Stated by Woodley Centre Surgery
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Concerns raised1
Failure to prevent inappropriate insulin prescribing for hyperkalaemia
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Unsafe prescribing of controlled drugs
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised2
Lack of detail regarding drugs taken, usage frequency and dependence before methadone prescribing
Absence of assessment of psychological issues before methadone prescribing
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to prescribe the appropriate antibiotics for specific clinical situations
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Ask the Birmingham and Area Antimicrobial Group to consider including aspiration pneumonia in local primary-care antimicrobial guidelines.
Stated by NHS Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group
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Concerns raised5
Excessive quantities of Dihydrocodeine prescribed
Prescribing Dihydrocodeine for migraine
Failure to prescribe safe Dihydrocodeine dosing instructions
Failure to account for the potential diversion of Dihydrocodeine
Failure to assess a patient in person before prescribing Dihydrocodeine
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Work with partner agencies to consolidate regulatory and professional guidance on online prescribing and medicine supply.
Stated by NHS England
Data last updated 7 September 2026