Failure to ensure medication packaging is clearly distinguishable
First to latest report 9 Jan 2015 — 2 Jun 2024
Reports that mention this concern
4
Times this concern has been raised
4
Stated actions linked to this concern
11
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the design, labelling, colour differentiation or other dedicated identification controls for medication packaging and dispensing containers where inadequate distinction can cause the wrong medicine or patient's medication to be selected, dispensed or used.
What is not included
Excludes medication prescribing, administration, reconciliation and supply failures where packaging or dispensing-container identification is not the deficient control.
Excludes general product labelling or medication warnings that do not concern distinguishing medicines or patients' medication containers.
Excludes patient-identification failures unrelated to medication packaging or dispensing-container differentiation.
Excludes generic dispensing, pharmacy or manufacturing deficiencies unless they directly create inadequate visual or other identification of medication packaging.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency4
Department of Health and Social Care2
General Pharmaceutical Council2
Community Pharmacy England1
Community Pharmacy Thames Valley1
Crescent Pharma Limited1
National Pharmacy Association1
NHS England1
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board1
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service1
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust1
Nursing and Midwifery Council1
Royal Pharmaceutical Society1
Slough Pharmacy1
Medicines and medical devices regulator4
Health and care professional regulator3
Ministerial department2
Executive non-departmental public body1
Healthcare site1
Health professional body1
Health-sector membership body1
Integrated care board1
NHS provider group1
NHS trust1
Private limited company1
Professional membership body1
Reports and published responses 4 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Berkshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to adequately differentiate dosset boxes for elderly or cognitively impaired patients living at the same address
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Community Pharmacy England (operating name of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
MHRA Customer Experience Centre
National Pharmacy Association
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service
Thames Valley LPC
Wexham Road pharmacy
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service
Consider adding wording recommending clear medicine labelling to distinguish household members, particularly those who are elderly or cognitively impaired.
National Pharmacy Association
Review existing guidance and consider refinements for supporting patients with cognitive impairments.
Community Pharmacy England (operating name of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
Raise the risk of confusing multi-compartment aids in one household with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and request consideration of additional guidance or information.
Community Pharmacy England (operating name of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
Raise the risk of confusing multi-compartment aids in one household with the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group and request consideration of additional guidance or information.
Community Pharmacy England (operating name of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
Inform represented community pharmacy owners about the risk of confusing multi-compartment aids in one household.
Wexham Road pharmacy
Double-check each tray with the patient after removing it from packaging.
Wexham Road pharmacy
Provide differently branded trays with distinct packaging to households where multiple people use trays.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.9
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
Community pharmacies are independent contractors under a national framework, limiting the ICB’s direct influence over their processes.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
Different dosette or label colours are not currently available because legal labelling requirements limit community pharmacy options.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
MHRA Customer Experience Centre
Pharmacy dispensing concerns fall outside the medicines regulator’s remit, which covers medicines placed on the UK market.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
MHRA Customer Experience Centre
Concerns about pharmacists’ dispensing actions should be addressed to the General Pharmaceutical Council, the pharmacy and pharmacist regulator.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service
Responsibility for labelling dispensed medicines lies with the regulator, so the service does not provide labelling information.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Thames Valley LPC
Dispensing medication is governed by a national pharmacy contract agreed and negotiated nationally, rather than by the local pharmacy committee.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Thames Valley LPC
Responsibility for commissioning dispensing medication rests with Frimley ICB, which has raised the matter with NHS England.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
Community pharmacies operate as independent contractors under national contracts, limiting direct influence over their processes.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
Different dosette or label colours are not currently available because community-pharmacy dosettes must meet legal labelling requirements.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Suffolk
Concerns raised1
Insufficiently distinctive packaging and visual identification of intravenous fluids for arterial line transducer sets
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department of Health and Social Care
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Consider improvements with the marketing authorisation holder to make statutory information easier for clinical staff to assimilate and reduce selection errors.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Department of Health and Social Care
Colour cannot be used in IV-fluid labelling because container manufacturing prevents it; other local risk controls are required.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Because Viaflo containers cannot use colour differentiation, local clinical areas must implement other measures to identify intravenous fluids correctly.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester West
Concerns raised1
Phosphate Polyfusor product design failing to distinguish the medication clearly
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Ensure nursing staff recognise different Polyfusor products and check all medication details in full.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Almost identical medication boxes
Linked response
Crescent Pharma Limited
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Crescent Pharma Limited
Meet with the MHRA to discuss packaging redesign and colour differentiation between products and strengths.
Crescent Pharma Limited
Revise product artwork to minimise pharmacist dispensing errors caused by failure to verify product identity.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.