By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 09:28 EST, 14 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:53 EST, 14 September 2012 . Doctors are erroneously filling out tens of thousands of prescription forms that leave patients severely injured or even dead, it emerged today. Pharmacists are forced to check tens of thousands of prescriptions every week which contain the wrong doses, quantities and instructions for medicines, it is claimed. In just one week, 44,500 prescriptions had to be double-checked in 4,409 pharmacies across England, according to industry publication Pharmacy Voice. Picking up the slack: Pharmacists' are forced to double check thousands of prescriptions due to mistakes by doctors . Inaccuracies on the prescriptions even include the wrong drugs and incorrect strengths and quantities. The prescription 'incidents' were recorded during a one-week audit at each of the pharmacies last year. They are typically resolved by a telephone conversation with the prescriber or the practice team. Rob Darracott, Pharmacy Voice chief . executive, said: 'This data shows the value of safety checks carried out . in pharmacies and the importance of information transfer between . prescriber, patient and pharmacist. 'This is not about GPs failing. It is . about teamwork in primary care working well. Your local pharmacy works . in tandem with doctors to ensure the effective and safe use of . medicines. 'This is all in a day's work for community pharmacies which check the appropriateness of 900million prescription items a year.' Pharmacists want access to patients’ summary care records. Doctors, however, do not want this to happen as they fear it could breach patient confidentiality. Last month it emerged that almost 50million prescriptions were handed out by doctors in 2011 - a rise of 9 per cent compared with the previous 12 months. Experts said increasing numbers of patients are turning to GPs for help as depression loses its stigma. At the same time, doctors are more inclined to give people a proper diagnosis and prescribe medication, rather than simply sending them away.
In just one week, pharmacists had to double-check 4,409 pharmacies across England .
Prescriptions contain the wrong doses, quantities and instructions for medicines .
By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 09:28 EST, 14 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:53 EST, 14 September 2012 . Doctors are erroneously filling out tens of thousands of prescription forms that leave patients severely injured or even dead, it emerged today. Pharmacists are forced to check tens of thousands of prescriptions every week which contain the wrong doses, quantities and instructions for medicines, it is claimed. In just one week, 44,500 prescriptions had to be double-checked in 4,409 pharmacies across England, according to industry publication Pharmacy Voice. Picking up the slack: Pharmacists' are forced to double check thousands of prescriptions due to mistakes by doctors . Inaccuracies on the prescriptions even include the wrong drugs and incorrect strengths and quantities. The prescription 'incidents' were recorded during a one-week audit at each of the pharmacies last year. They are typically resolved by a telephone conversation with the prescriber or the practice team. Rob Darracott, Pharmacy Voice chief . executive, said: 'This data shows the value of safety checks carried out . in pharmacies and the importance of information transfer between . prescriber, patient and pharmacist. 'This is not about GPs failing. It is . about teamwork in primary care working well. Your local pharmacy works . in tandem with doctors to ensure the effective and safe use of . medicines. 'This is all in a day's work for community pharmacies which check the appropriateness of 900million prescription items a year.' Pharmacists want access to patients’ summary care records. Doctors, however, do not want this to happen as they fear it could breach patient confidentiality. Last month it emerged that almost 50million prescriptions were handed out by doctors in 2011 - a rise of 9 per cent compared with the previous 12 months. Experts said increasing numbers of patients are turning to GPs for help as depression loses its stigma. At the same time, doctors are more inclined to give people a proper diagnosis and prescribe medication, rather than simply sending them away.
which contain the wrong doses, quantities and instructions for medicines, it is claimed. In just one week, 44,500 prescriptions had to be double-checked in 4,409 pharmacies across