Inconsistency in completing medication orders is contributing to "medication errors and delays" according to the preliminary review of the Island's hospitals.

But Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) Director of Quality & Risk, Judy Richardson last night explained the finding just highlighted the different ways the hospitals complete medication forms and was not in response to "any particular event where a patient was impacted".

This finding was part of the Canadian Council on Health Services (CCHSA) which reviews both the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Mid-Atlantic Institute (MWI) every three years.

Their last on-site visit was in 2005 and in a move to try and update their process, the CCHSA, this year also included approaching patients about their views on the hospital.

For the first time, the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) decided to release the preliminary report in the accreditation process to ensure the public were aware of the progress.

One of the areas that the CCHSA highlighted as an area that BHB would have to submit a report before final accreditation was given in December was the medication issues.

In the report it states: "A review of the processes related to medication management is recommended.

"Currently there is inconsistency in how medication orders are copied onto the physician medication and treatment order sheet.

"Some areas use this sheet for only medication orders and others use it for all orders. This sheet is then faxed to pharmacy for the medication order to be processed.

"This has contributed to medication errors and delays. The BHB is aware and plans to strike a team to look at the standardisation of medication management soon."

Medication management begins from the purchase and selection to the administration and monitoring of clients, a Ms. Richardson explained.

And last night she allayed any fears that a patient may have suffered because of this and explained that it was a matter of standardising two different processes between KEMH and MWI.

Ms. Richardson said: "The Accreditation Canada surveyors discovered that KEMH and MWI use two different processes of medication management.

"They have asked that we take steps to standardise this throughout the organisation to minimise the opportunity for mistakes.

"This recommendation was made to reduce potential risk and not in response to any particular event where a patient was impacted. The pharmacy department has already taken steps to ensure that BHB meets its best practice standards at both sites. Future plans include computerized physician order entry and expanded automation of processes.

"We are very excited about implementing these improvements as we strive to provide our community with the best care possible."