Covert Administration in Care Homes
This guidance was produced to support care homes and primary care prescribers to covertly administer medications for care homes residents in extreme circumstances, and outlines best practice for implementation to ensure all pharmaceutical, ethical and legal requirements are considered. The guidance also contains templates to ensure correct record keeping and documentation. The resource can be found at the following link: https://hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/downloads/file/334/covert-administration-in-care-homes-care-homes-good-practice-guidance-v1-0
Anticoagulants
Includes information around the safe use and administration, including guidance on how to manage missed doses: https://hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/downloads/file/332/anticoagulants-care-home-good-practice-guidance-v1-0. A Warfarin Administration Chart is also included.
Controlled Drugs
Provides guidance on how to manage controlled drugs safely and legally. It provides information on receipt, storage, administration, documentation, disposal and discrepancies/errors: https://hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/downloads/file/333/controlled-drugs-care-homes-good-practice-guidance-v1-0
Reducing harm from omitted and delayed medicines – Guidance for Care Homes (no attachment)
Provides practical advice for care home staff on how to manage omitted and delayed medicines. It covers some of the common reasons for missed doses, along with some good practice recommendations on how to prevent missed doses: https://hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/downloads/file/469/gpg-omitted-and-delayed-doses
Homely Remedies and Self Care Good Practice Guidance for Care Homes (no attachment)
Provides protocols for the implementation of homely remedies and self-care. These are two methods that allow care home residents to obtain over the counter medicines when required. The guidance covers supply, storage and record keeping ensuring OTC products are obtained in a safe and appropriate way by care home staff for their residents. This succeeds all previous CCG guidance on homely remedies and self-care for care homes. The publication can be accessed using the following link: gpg-homely-remedies (icb.nhs.uk)