This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7161196.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Drug reactions 'kill thousands' | Drug reactions 'kill thousands' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Almost 3,000 people have died in the past three years after suffering serious side-effects or allergies to their medicines, say official figures. | Almost 3,000 people have died in the past three years after suffering serious side-effects or allergies to their medicines, say official figures. |
| More than 13,000 others in the same period had an "adverse drug reaction", but survived with hospital treatment. | More than 13,000 others in the same period had an "adverse drug reaction", but survived with hospital treatment. |
| The statistics, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, include damage caused by "over the counter" drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. | The statistics, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, include damage caused by "over the counter" drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. |
| Experts said that medicines could not be blamed for all the reported cases. | Experts said that medicines could not be blamed for all the reported cases. |
| This is a dangerously escalating problem, which is putting lives at risk and placing a big cost burden on the NHS Norman Lamb MPLiberal Democrats | This is a dangerously escalating problem, which is putting lives at risk and placing a big cost burden on the NHS Norman Lamb MPLiberal Democrats |
| The figures are drawn from "yellow card" scheme, run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) to gather reports of all adverse reactions from both clinicians and patients. | The figures are drawn from "yellow card" scheme, run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) to gather reports of all adverse reactions from both clinicians and patients. |
| Last year, there were reports of 964 patients in the UK who died as a result of an adverse reaction, compared with more than 1,000 the previous year, and 861 in 2004. | |
| However, there is evidence that the vast majority of adverse drug reactions are never reported to the MHRA. | However, there is evidence that the vast majority of adverse drug reactions are never reported to the MHRA. |
| Bigger problem | Bigger problem |
| A study published last year suggested that 6.5% of all patients admitted to hospital had experienced a reaction, and that in four out of five cases, the medicines they were taking were to blame. | A study published last year suggested that 6.5% of all patients admitted to hospital had experienced a reaction, and that in four out of five cases, the medicines they were taking were to blame. |
| This adds up to as much as 250,000 cases a year - and an annual cost of £466 million to the NHS. | This adds up to as much as 250,000 cases a year - and an annual cost of £466 million to the NHS. |
| The MHRA has urged patients to join doctors in reporting drug reactions to them via the NHS Direct phone line. | The MHRA has urged patients to join doctors in reporting drug reactions to them via the NHS Direct phone line. |
| While in some cases a deadly side-effect or allergy could not have been predicted, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has conceded that some cases should have been avoided. | While in some cases a deadly side-effect or allergy could not have been predicted, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has conceded that some cases should have been avoided. |
| "We have to become better at learning from these mistakes," he told a conference last month. | "We have to become better at learning from these mistakes," he told a conference last month. |
| However, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a "full investigation" into the issue. | However, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a "full investigation" into the issue. |
| MP Norman Lamb said: "This is a dangerously escalating problem, which is putting lives at risk and placing a big cost burden on the NHS." | MP Norman Lamb said: "This is a dangerously escalating problem, which is putting lives at risk and placing a big cost burden on the NHS." |
| It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily prove that it was caused by the drug Dr June RaineMHRA | It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily prove that it was caused by the drug Dr June RaineMHRA |
| While many of the cases involve drugs commonly prescribed by GPs and in hospitals, such as the blood-thinning drug warfarin and diuretics, a list of common culprits includes some which can be bought without prescription in any high street chemist. | While many of the cases involve drugs commonly prescribed by GPs and in hospitals, such as the blood-thinning drug warfarin and diuretics, a list of common culprits includes some which can be bought without prescription in any high street chemist. |
| These include aspirin, and the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, both of which can cause gastric bleeding if taken in high doses over longer periods. | These include aspirin, and the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, both of which can cause gastric bleeding if taken in high doses over longer periods. |
| Dr June Raine, the Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA said that every medicine carried some risk of side-effects. | Dr June Raine, the Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA said that every medicine carried some risk of side-effects. |
| "Our role is to ensure that the benefits of medication outweigh the risks. "It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily prove that it was caused by the drug. | "Our role is to ensure that the benefits of medication outweigh the risks. "It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily prove that it was caused by the drug. |
| "Other factors such as underlying disease or other medicines may contribute to suspected adverse reactions." | "Other factors such as underlying disease or other medicines may contribute to suspected adverse reactions." |