Summary
Peri-operative medication safety is complex. Avoidance of medication errors is both system- and practitioner-based,
and many departments within the hospital contribute to safe and effective systems. For the individual
anaesthetist, drawing up, labelling and then the correct administration of medications are key components in a
patient’s peri-operative journey. These guidelines aim to provide pragmatic safety steps for the practitioner and
other individuals within the operative environment, as well as short- to long-term goals for development of a
collaborative approach to reducing errors. The aim is that they will be used as a basis for instilling good practice.