Management of Medicines

Policy on management of medicines
Revision 1.1

Tigh a’Chomainn Camphill is committed to ensuring safe practice with regard to medicines and other pharmaceutical products.

Residents are encouraged to administer their own medication, with the necessary support, according to their changing needs and abilities. This decision as to whether an individual is capable of self medication is reviewed regularly by the key-worker and as appropriate at the weekly co-worker meeting, and more formally at the annual review. The review is primarily to assess the degree of risk involved.

Procedures for the supply, storage, administration, review, recording and disposal of residents’ medicines are set out below.

Any co-worker who is involved in any way with residents’ medicines should be aware of and follow the correct procedures.

Co-workers will only undertake certain procedures (e.g. insulin injections) for which they have received specific training and the agreement of the resident and their GP. This will be regularly reviewed at the annual review.


PROCEDURE
Supply
Prescriptions are obtained from the doctor (after a visit to the surgery or a home visit from the doctor). Requests for repeat prescriptions are completed/supervised by a senior co-worker and are submitted in accordance with pharmacy lead times. Prescriptions are usually taken to the dispensing chemist by the resident (accompanied if necessary). The supply of prescription medicine is recorded and regularly audited by a senior co-worker.
There is a supply of ‘over the counter’ medicines, bought by a senior co-worker.
Some residents buy their own ‘over the counter’ medicines. Residents are encouraged to keep a record of such purchases.
Storage
Medicines are stored either in a locked medicine cupboard or by the resident in lockable storage where appropriate.
Labels on medicine containers are never altered and medicine is stored in its original packaging.
Medicines requiring refrigeration are kept in a refrigerator which is used less frequently than the general kitchen one.

Administration by resident
Residents who choose to self administer are first assessed for their ability to do so, and in keeping with National Care Standard 15. The assessment covers:
1. Is the person legally entitled to self-administer?
2. Does the person understand the importance of taking their medication?
3. Are they able to take the prescribed dose at the correct time, and record it?
Co-workers supervise for a probationary period and provide ongoing monitoring.

Administration by co-worker
Co-workers generally administer medicines unless a resident has been assessed as being either capable of self-administration or ready to learn how to self-administer under supervision.
Medicines are only administered to the person whose name is on the label.
Only senior co-workers administer ‘over the counter’ medicines (except for ‘self-administrators’).
Medicine is not covertly administered if it is refused. If prescribed medication is refused medical advice is sought either immediately or at the latest after three occasions (depending on the individual and the medicine).

Review
Medication is reviewed on an ongoing basis, at 6 monthly intervals and by the Medical Practice.

Recording
Prescribed medicine, when received, is recorded on the resident’s medication sheet, stating the date when that particular bottle was started.
The regular administration of the medicine is recorded on the resident’s medication sheet.
The resident’s medication sheet includes details of:
• Resident’s name
• Date of birth
• Name and strength of each medicine
• Dose and frequency of each medicine to be given
• Daily recordings for 1 month.
• Quantity administered
• Whether medicine was taken or not

Any ‘one-off’ medicines (e.g. headache tablets) are recorded on the resident’s medication sheet.
Disposal
Unused prescribed medicine is returned to the local pharmacy. A record of what was disposed and quantity is kept.
There is a regular monthly inspection of the medicine cupboard by a senior co-worker to weed out any medicines which are out of date.

Errors or Mistakes
If a resident is given medication other than that which was prescribed for him/her, immediate medical advice will be sought. The circumstances of the error will be recorded and investigated.

Training
Training is undertaken by all co-workers who are involved in any way with residents’ medicines. Training received is recorded (including details of what training and when). The training follows the guidance of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in The Handling of Medicines in Social Care. 

  1.Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2007), The Handling of Medicines in Social Care: Staff Training (pp.30-31), Procedures for giving medicines, pp.51-52)