Annual Report 2006 for MedEvent (Meldesentralen – the Reporting System for Adverse Events in Specialized Health Services)
Summary of Report of the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision 1/2008
During the period 2003 to 2006, about 2 000 reports of adverse events have been registered each year in Medevent (the Reporting System for Adverse Events in Specialized Health Services). Such events involve a duty to report to the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision in the counties, in accordance with the Specialized Health Services Act, section 3-3. The number of reports registered in 2006 was 1 855.
About half of the events registered in 2006 (51 per cent) were reports of events that could have led to serious injury to patients, and one-third (33 per cent) were reports of serious injury.
Five per cent of all reports of adverse events from 2001 to 2006 were related to childbirth.
The proportion of reports of adverse events that had occurred in mental health services has been fairly stable from 2001 to 2006 – between 16-19 per cent. Six per cent of all reports were related to suicide and attempted suicide.
Twenty-seven per cent of reports registered in 2006 were related to the use of medication.
The proportion of patients who were informed about the adverse event, and about the Norwegian System of Compensation for Injuries to Patients (NPE), shows a gradual increase.
However, there are still many patients who are not informed about the event or about NPE. There is potential for improvement in this area.