FOI 26-045 Adverse Events
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-045 Adverse Events
- Request Date
- 23 Jan 2026
- Response Date
- 04 Feb 2026
- Information Requested
Could you please provide me with information regarding the incidence and type of adverse events and near misses experienced within SAS. This could include incidents such as needle stick injuries, medication errors or other events resulting in unnecessary harm to patients, staff or others. Data for the previous 5 years or longer would be preferred.
- Response
We record incidents in our InPhase system (previously recorded in Datix) using standard categories. Please see the tables below detailing the totals for the last five years for Clinical Incident (Adverse to Patient Safety), Employee Accident/Issue, and Patient Safety Accident/Issue.
We do not record “unnecessary harm” as a data field, it is for this reason we have applied section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 as information not held.
Important information to consider when interpreting this data
In 2024/25 SAS phased in a new incident reporting system and taxonomy. Categories in 2024/25 may not be directly comparable with earlier years. We have reported figures for each category where recorded. The system relies on manual entry and subsequent review, so counts can change after incidents are assessed or reclassified.
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Equipment Related Failure
207
361
459
400
139
ACC Related
205
297
229
224
220
COVID-19
163
41
Partner Services
161
159
165
170
220
355
Response Related
130
253
218
152
129
Fall/Trip/Slip
68
56
56
48
46
117
Drug Related
56
94
67
92
91
Manual Handling
54
54
62
71
52
New Clinical Response Model
48
27
27
35
26
69
Clinical Assessment/Decision Making
33
97
127
173
205
518
Air Ambulance/ScotSTAR Issues
29
39
38
37
50
99
PTS Patient Unwell or Misdiagnosed
23
26
39
19
Vehicle Issues
23
35
27
42
52
208
Assault Physical
23
26
27
44
45
154
Assault Verbal
19
23
135
Sharps/Needlestick
16
19
20
24
26
74
Risk of Infection
16
14
27
13
40
Struck by or against object/Nipped Body Part
15
13
21
72
Business Continuity Issue
8
16
13
Rest Break Complaints/Issue
8
43
56
29
206
Treatment
45
75
63
87
109
Excessive Workload/Fatigue
23
44
21
84
High Intensity User
15
Equipment Related
13
279
1555
Vulnerable Person (Adult/Child Protection)
25
Response Related (Operational and ACC)
21
457
Road Traffic Collision (damage to vehicle, third party or property)
735
Patient Handling
334
Medicines (Controlled Drugs)
296
Infection, Prevention and Control
85
Information Governance Incident
69
It should be noted that the Scottish Ambulance Service publish their Duty of Candor Reports - Reports
