The compliance requirements for CQC are laid out in the Essential Standards of Quality and Safety under the guidance on safeguarding and safety Outcome 9: Management of Medicines.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society discusses why the safe management and use of medicines is important in Section 1 of the Pharmaceutical Services to Social Care Settings
Much of this may seem obvious to those of you maintaining high standards within your care home setting, with robust systems in place. However we know from the Care Homes Use of Medicines Study (CHUMS) 2009 that up to 40-50% of your time is taken up with medicines related activities so clearly medicines management is an important part of your duty of care to your residents.
In the current economic climate it is more important than ever to provide the best person centred outcomes for our most vulnerable residents, with the least waste, in order to make best use of precious NHS resources.
Various documents are available to help you on the Area Prescribing Committee websites below. You may find documents listed under Resources and those as Guidance especially useful for example Expiry Dates and preferred lists of dressings, continence and emollients.
These have been agreed across both Coventry and Warwickshire and can be accessed by the public:
Coventry & Warwickshire Area Prescribing Committee
Information on prescribing in Worcestershire can be found at the Worecstershire prescribing committee website:
Worcestershire Area Prescribing Committee
Contact Details
Care Homes in Coventry and Rugby Only
Medicines Management
NHS Coventry & Rugby CCG
Christchurch House
Coventry
CV1 2GQ
02476 246124
Links