A new study has revealed that Touchdose, a digital prescribing tool, has reduced paediatric medication errors by more than 80%, marking a major breakthrough in patient safety.
Developed with support from the NHS, Imperial College London, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Touchdose is now live across four West London hospitals. The tool helps clinicians calculate accurate drug dosages for children – removing the need for mental arithmetic or unregulated apps, which are common sources of error.
Children are especially vulnerable to medication errors due to their unique physiology and smaller margin for error. Mistakes can cause harm or delay treatment, even when caught in time.
Touchdose integrates:
- British National Formulary (BNF) and BNF for Children
- Electronic Health Records
- Local clinical guidelines
This ensures the correct dose, frequency, duration, and route of administration for each patient, embedded directly into the prescribing workflow.
NIHR Scientific Director for Research Infrastructure, Professor Marian Knight, commented:
“Getting the right treatment straight away is best for patients, saves valuable staff time within the NHS and prevents delays in recovery. I'm really excited by these results, which show that this new tool, developed with support from NIHR infrastructure through our North West London Patient Safety Research Collaboration, will bring significant benefits for children and the clinicians who care for them.”
Touchdose is a prime example of how digital health innovation can improve safety, reduce clinician workload, and enhance care quality – especially in high-risk areas like paediatrics.
Image credit: iStock
