Some 25% of people who sought treatment at a hospital or clinic in the last two years said they experienced medical errors, a report into patient safety by patient organisation Patiëntenfederatie Nederland has shown.

A survey among the 7,860 members of the organisation’s health panel showed the number of (near) medical misses has gone up by four percentage points compared to 2021.

Medical errors included wrong diagnoses, late diagnoses, wrong medication or treatment. Many of the mistakes could have been prevented if medical staff listened to patients and involved them in their decisions more, respondents said. “It looks as if we have to repeat our call for better communication,” the organisation said.

The organisation’s main worry is the lack of information sharing within the Dutch care system. “Too often essential medical data, such as the medication patients are on or allergies, are not available in time or they are incomplete. That is incredible in 2024,” said Arthur Schellekens, director of the Patiëntenfederatie.

Of the patients who experienced medical errors 18% were left with permanent physical damage while 21% had psychological problems.

“If I had continued to use the drops that were prescribed I would have lost my sight,” one of the respondents said, while another said the information about his allergy in his file had not been checked.

Schellekens said many patients are unaware that doctors are ignorant of their medical history. “The system where patients have to give permission to share medical data has to change. It should be the case that healthcare organisations can share the information unless the patient actively refuses,” Schellekens said.

Schellekens himself is allergic to certain anaesthetics, he told the AD. “If I fall off my bike in Groningen and I am unconscious in the emergency department no one knows I’m allergic. Someone said I should have it tattooed on my chest. It’s just ridiculous.”

Some 14% of patients who were victims of a medical error complained or sued for damage and some 35% took no action at all. “It’s a good thing we are not a litigious society, like the United States,” Schellekens told the paper. But at the same time mistakes are not highlighted and may affect others, he said.