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. 2001 Mar 3;322(7285):517-9.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7285.517.

Adverse events in British hospitals: preliminary retrospective record review

C Vincent  1 , G Neale, M Woloshynowych
Affiliations

Adverse events in British hospitals: preliminary retrospective record review

C Vincent et al. BMJ. .

Erratum in

  • BMJ 2001 Jun 9;322(7299):1395

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of detecting adverse events through record review in British hospitals and to make preliminary estimates of the incidence and costs of adverse events.

Design: Retrospective review of 1014 medical and nursing records.

Setting: Two acute hospitals in Greater London area.

Main outcome measure: Number of adverse events.

Results: 110 (10.8%) patients experienced an adverse event, with an overall rate of adverse events of 11.7% when multiple adverse events were included. About half of these events were judged preventable with ordinary standards of care. A third of adverse events led to moderate or greater disability or death.

Conclusions: These results suggest that adverse events are a serious source of harm to patients and a large drain on NHS resources. Some are major events; others are frequent, minor events that go unnoticed in routine clinical care but together have massive economic consequences.

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