Medication Policy

Where ever possible Service Users will be responsible for holding and taking their own medication. Where the Service user requires assistance the following policy and procedures must be adhered to.

Supply of medication

Staff will only assist with medication when the service user is unable to do so. Assistance would then be agreed during the assessment and written on the care plan where the service user or representative will sign. A letter will be sent to the service users GP requiring authorisation for care staff to administer medication. (appendix A)

The Home Care Manager must liase with the GP or District Nurse to ensure training is provided to any care worker whose service user requires assistance with eye, ear or nose drops, the use of inhalers or oxygen.

Staff will only administer from individual containers or monitored drug dosage systems dispensed by a pharmacist and prescribed to the service user.

Wherever possible medication should be supplied in a NOMAD blister pack or hand filled dosette box. It should be obtained by the service user or representative, and the hand filled dosette box must be re-filled by the service user, representative or GP.

If necessary (where service user or representative is unable to do so) staff may take a prescription to the pharmacist and return the medication to the service user. This service is only available if agreed by Local Authority or Office and family.

Prescription requests need to be completed by the service user, their representative or GP/District Nurse.

Medication you must not help with:

Under no circumstances should staff offer advice or administer non-prescribed medicines or remedies. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DO SO.

Controlled drugs, injections, pessaries, enemas, suppositories, bladder wash-outs or gastric feeding.

Administering or buying non-prescribed medicines or home remedies for service user without referring to your manager.

Exceptions to the above: Where specialist instruction or training has been given (i.e. by District Nurse etc) care workers may administer some controlled drugs, i.e. morphine in tablet form.

You may only help with the following

Verbal reminders to take medication at the correct time.

Help with the preparation, e.g. shaking the bottle, removing the lid and bringing a drink if necessary.

Physical help, for example pouring a measured dose for the service user to swallow, removing a tablet from the bottle, packet or dispenser and giving it to the service user, or applying prescribed cream or ointment to the skin.

Only with prescribed medication as indicated on the service user care plan (not herbal or over the counter remedies e.g. cough medicine and aspirin).

When helping the service user as above the following rules must be adhered to.

Staff may administer medication to service users when clearly identified on the care plan, following an assessment of needs.

Check the homecare record sheet and or medication chart to confirm that the service user has had, or is due to have medication.

Check the name of the client against the name on the container, and the name of the medication to be taken. If the instructions are unclear, labels illegible or you are in any doubt about helping the service user with the medication, you must contact the manager.

Check when the medication should be taken. Keep to any instructions, e.g. ëtake on an empty stomachí or ëto be taken with foodí

Staff are not expected to administer medication if the service user refuses it.

If the service user refuses their medication it must be recorded on the homecare record sheet and you should inform your manager and where relevant the service users main carer/next of kin.

Staff would not be expected to disguise medication in food or drink. In exceptional circumstances this may be agreed with written request from the family and agreed by the prescriber.

Medication is the property of the service user and therefore cannot be removed from the service users home by staff.

If you use a weekly dispenser box, you must not fill it. Contact your manager if the box has not been prepared.

At all times medication should be left in a safe place, known and accessible to the service user. However, where the service user is particularly confused it may not be appropriate for them to have access to medication, in such circumstances medication should be kept in a safe place, but out of reach of the service user.

Procedure for administering medication to the service user

Be certain of the identity of the person to whom the medication is to be administered

Check the medication has not already been administered

Check the name of the service user against the blister pack/dispenser box and give tablets from the appropriate compartment.

Alternatively, check the name and dose of the drug on the label corresponds with the prescription on the medication chart.

Administer the medication.

Record the administration of medication by initialling the correct date space on the medication chart.

Record if medication not taken stating the reason by using the appropriate code, and initial. Codes to be used are,

R = refused, A = absent, S = sleeping, AMLO = absent and medication left out, SMLO = sleeping and medication left out, NR = not required, i.e. when pain relief is given as and when required.

Records

The medication chart must be kept in the service users file

The Care worker will inform the office as the final week on the chart is being used. The office will ensure a new medication chart is issued.

Used medication charts are to remain in the service users file for a minimum of 3 months before being returned to the office.