Health written question – answered at on 3 April 2014.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances a carer may administer a person's medication in hospital.
Hospital nurses can use the expertise of carers, and recognise that because carers know and understand the patient so well their help in administering medicines can in some cases be invaluable. This can be especially important when swallowing is difficult and extra help is needed, or when patients need to take critical medicines in order to minimise the risks of omitted and delayed doses. The Nursing and Midwifery Council welcomes and supports the self-administration of medicinal products and the administration of medication by carers wherever it is appropriate.
Local hospital policies will apply in these situations and all national health service trusts should have their own medicine management policies and procedures. These should include how to minimise and manage omitted and delayed medicines and have regard to the National Patient Safety Agency's Rapid Response Report 2010/RRR009, Reducing harm from omitted and delayed medication in hospitals.
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