The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued a patient safety alert detailing steps that can make anticoagulant therapy safer.
The alert recommends that prescribers and pharmacists:
- Ensure that blood clotting (International Normalised Ration - INR) is being monitored regularly before issuing or dispensing repeat prescriptions for oral anticoagulants
- Consider the impact of clinically significant interactions when co-prescribing or dispensing medication with oral anticoagulants ensuring that safety precautions have been made including additional monitoring
Action: Healthcare professionals who prescribe or dispense oral anticoagulants need to be aware of this Patient Safety Alert and should ensure they act upon these recommendations.