Medicines Management Policy

Introduction

The NHS Executive requires, that NHS Trusts establish, document and maintain an effective system to ensure that service users are protected from the risks associated with the unsafe use and management of medicines and that medicines are handled in a safe and secure manner. This Medicines Management Policy defines the policies to be followed within Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and applies to all care environments within the Trust where medicines are prescribed and administered for the procurement, dispensing, prescribing, administration, secure storage, transport and disposal of medicines.

It aims to ensure the highest standards of Medicines Management, and thus minimise the risk of errors occurring. It is largely based on the principles set out in “The Safe and Secure handling of Medicine” which is a revision of the Duthie report (1988) led by the Hospital pharmacists’ Group of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and “Standards for the Administration of Medicines, U.K.C.C. October 2000”. All staff working within the Trust who are involved in any way with the use of medicines, must familiarise themselves with the correct procedures contained in this policy. This will include medical, nursing and pharmacy staff.

Those in charge of wards, departments and teams are responsible for ensuring that their staff, especially new starters and locum staff, follows the procedures in this policy, which may differ from procedures elsewhere.

This policy will be reviewed every two years, and ratified by the Drugs & Therapeutics Committee. Any comments or suggestions for inclusion in future editions should be sent to the Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Local medication related policies and protocols may also be developed and included in Appendix 2 of this document. These must reflect the guidance given in this document and be formally ratified by the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee.

Policy Details