Safe and Effective Use of Medicines

Commissioners and providers should review their processes, policies, and local governance arrangements to ensure it is known who is accountable and responsible for using medicines effectively and safely in care homes. Care home providers should have a care home medicines policy in place that is up-to-date and based on the current legislation and best practices. The policy should include:

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  • Sharing information about a residentu2019s medicines
  • Ensuring records are up-to-date and accurate
  • Identifying, reporting, and reviewing medicines-related problems
  • Safeguarding
  • Medicines reconciliation
  • Medication review
  • Ordering medicines
  • Receiving, storing, and disposing of medicines
  • Helping residents with medicines self-administration
  • Care home staff administering medicines to residents, staff training, and competence requirements
  • Covert administration
  • Care staff giving non-prescription and over-the-counter products to residents
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