The pattern of incidents reported is similar to previous research on the subject, but with a few key differences, such as, reports of errors associated with filling dosette boxes, and patient-centred issues. These differences indicate a potentially changing pattern of errors in response to new techniques in medicine management. Continued assessment of dispensing errors is required in order to develop practical interventions to improve medication safety.

Purpose -To describe the initiatives of the Scottish Parliament in the field of e-democracy and assess the prospects for future developments. Design/methodology/approach -Analysis and review. Findings -The Scottish Parliament has always seen the internet as one of the major mechanisms for engaging Scottish citizens in the Parliament's business and activities. Its most successful initiatives have been the e-petitioning system, the webcasting of proceedings, the discussion forums and the MSP video diaries. Research limitations/implications -Relevant to parliaments and other representative institutions.Practical implications -Simple implementable tools are described that have been shown to be effective. Originality/value -Few parliaments have been able to put theory into practice in a short time.Applicable to other small parliaments with limited resources wishing to enhance democratic participation by electronic means.The fact that the Scottish Parliament was established well into the age of the internet has given it a huge advantage in terms of incorporating new information and communication technologies into its practices and procedures. Although the Parliament was established as a result of the Scotland Act, passed by the UK Parliament in 1998, it was able to be created in an astonishingly short time because of the wealth of discussion and cross-party agreement that had taken place over many of the preceding years. Much of this prior planning was encapsulated in the work of the Consultative Steering Group (CSG), which was set up by the Secretary of State for Scotland in November 1997 under the chairmanship of Henry McLeish MP. Their report, Shaping Scotland's Parliament, was published in December 1998 and made detailed recommendations for how the Parliament should actually work (Scottish Office, 1998a).The CSG identified four key principles on which the Parliament's operations should be based. These were endorsed by the Parliament in 1999, and are: . sharing the power;. accountability;. access and participation; and . equal opportunities.The CSG was supported by an Expert Panel on information and communication technologies, whose remit was:

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