Hundreds of Cases of Incorrect Medication in Municipality

Over 600 cases of incorrect medication and missed medicines have been reported in elderly care in Oxelösund since the beginning of 2025. This is stated in a review that describes the situation as serious and potentially life-threatening for the affected elderly.

According to a report by Swedish Radio, more than 3,000 incident reports have been submitted from the municipality’s elderly care since January 1, 2025. Of these, over 600 concern elderly individuals who have either received the wrong medication, the wrong dose, or have not received their medicines at all. The issues have been discovered both in nursing homes and in other care sectors.

Medication errors may in some cases have had very serious consequences. Elderly people are often particularly sensitive to medicines, and changes in medication can quickly lead to deteriorating health conditions.

According to Yngve Gustafson, professor of geriatrics at Umeå University, missed or incorrect medication can in the worst case be directly life-threatening. He particularly highlights the risks for people taking heart medications, diabetes medicines, or blood thinners.

The report also reveals that many of the incidents are due to human error in a stressed workplace. This may involve staff missing to distribute medication, administering medicines at the wrong time, or confusing preparations. At the same time, it is emphasized that not every incident has necessarily resulted in serious harm but that the volume of reports raises concerns about patient safety in elderly care.

Particularly Vulnerable

Experts say that elderly people often use several different medications at the same time, which makes them particularly vulnerable to errors in treatment. Previous research and reviews have shown that side effects from medication are a common reason why elderly people require hospital care. Yngve Gustafson has warned for many years about the risks posed by poor management of medicines in the care of the elderly.

The municipality states that the incident reports are used to detect shortcomings and improve routines in care. However, the review shows that the problems remain extensive, despite incorrect medication being an issue that has long received attention in Swedish elderly care.