The National Patient Safety Agency defines a medication error as any error is made in the prescribing, dispensing, preparing, administering, monitoring or providing medical advice, regardless of whether any harm occurred. Examples of medication error can include the following: ✓ Being prescribed the wrong drugs ✓ Receiving a too-high dosage ✓ Receiving the wrong strength of drug ✓ Time errors, where drugs are given earlier or later than planned ✓ Administering medication to a patient who has an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the medication ✓ Administering unauthorised medication ✓ Combining medications that should not be taken together, such that one medicine contraindicates the other.