Prescribing and Research in Medicines Management (UK & Ireland) Annual Conference 2017, University of Coventry London Campus, January 28 th 2017: “Deprescribing ‐ is less more?”

Background and aims Using the WHO International Classification for Patient Safety terminology, we have defined medication prescribing safety incidents as an event or circumstance that could have resulted, or did result, in unnecessary harm to a patient as a result of medication prescribing decision and prescription writing process. Prescribing incidents can lead to significant harm to patients with some of these being preventable. This study aimed to describe medication prescribing safety incidents occurring in primary care reported to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS, a central repository of patient safety incident reports in England and Wales) with outcome severity of moderate harm, severe harm or death and identify priority areas of intervention to improve patient safety.