Cornford House
POLICY NO: P-14
Date Reviewed Issue No:
Jan 2016
7
Page 1 of 3
HANDLING & CONTROL OF DRUGS: (1) ORDERING & STORAGE
Sourcing and recording of all drugs and medicines prescribed for residents:
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The responsibility for prescribing all drugs and medicines for residents will be that of the
resident's GP, Consultant, Dentist, and Specialist Nurse
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All drugs / medicines required will be listed upon the appropriate Prescription Form and
signed by the GP. Prescriptions are usually collected by the Pharmacist from either the
surgery or the RN office.
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Advice will be sought from the Pharmacist regarding medicines polices within the home
and medicines dispensed for individuals in the home.
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When the prescriptions have been prepared the pharmacist will deliver to the home.
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The home will use one Pharmacy as far as possible to supply all prescriptions fro its
residents. This will ensure that all medication details are recorded on the MARs
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All medicines will be dispensed in manufacturers original packaging or traditional boxes
and bottles.
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The pharmacy will deliver all items to the home providing they receive the prescription
via fax before 3pm. Non urgent medicines will be delivered next day.
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Interim medicines obtained from a local pharmacy should be detailed to the MARs
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Upon receipt at the home, all drugs / medicines must be booked in on the MARs.
Controlled Drugs will also be recorded in the Controlled Drugs book
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If a change is made to the dose part way through the month changes must be entered
onto the MARs to ensure that the record is updated.
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On a regular basis staff will monitor the condition of the resident in respect to medication
and will contact the resident’s GP where there are concerns in any change in condition
which may be a result of medication.
Safe storage of drugs, medicines and medical equipment
This defines the arrangements for the storage of drugs, medicines and non-disposable and
disposable medical equipment at the home to ensure compliance to manufacturers’ storage
instructions and appropriate legislation:
Storage of drugs and medicines
Cornford House
POLICY NO: P-14
Date Reviewed Issue No:
Jan 2016
7
Page 2 of 3
HANDLING & CONTROL OF DRUGS: (1) ORDERING & STORAGE
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All drugs / medicines will be stored in a locked drugs cupboard which is permanently
fixed within the treatment room. The treatment room will be kept locked when not in use.
The keys to the drugs cupboard and the treatment room will be kept by the RN on duty
Internal and external medication must be stored separately
Current drugs in use are stored in a drug trolley, when not being used these trolleys will
be kept locked and affixed to the wall of the clinic room with a lockable clamp when not
in use. The keys to the trolley and the fixing clamp will be kept by the RN on duty
Household Remedies will be stored in the drugs cupboard.
For drugs requiring low temperature storage (refer to manufacturer's instructions on the
container labels), e.g. insulin and eye drops, the following action must be taken:
All such drugs will be stored in a special locked refrigerator kept in the clinic room. The
keys to the refrigerator will be kept by the RN on duty
Temperature readings of the inside of the refrigerator will be made on a daily basis and
recorded in a special temperature Book kept in the pharmacy. Optimum temperature will
be 2oC; 8oC maximum.
Temperature readouts will be verified weekly with a calibrated thermometer, recording
readings in the temperature Book. The manager must be alerted if two or more
consecutive temperature readings fall above 8oC, and a record made of action taken.
Pharmacy room temperature will be recorded daily and recorded in the temperature
book kept in the pharmacy. The optimum temperature is below 28°
Special requirements for controlled drugs
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Controlled Drugs will be stored in a specially-designated locked cupboard located within
the locked drugs cupboard in the pharmacy.
The keys to the Controlled Drugs Cupboard will be kept by the RN on duty
All drugs / medicines will be kept in the containers in which they were originally supplied.
Under no circumstances must the container label be altered or changed in any way. If a
label becomes detached or illegible then the drug / medicine must be referred back to
the pharmacist and if necessary the prescribing GP.
Storage of medical equipment
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This will apply to the storage of disposable equipment items such as sterile and
non-sterile medical devices (hypodermic syringes, cannulae, catheters, drainage bags),
and non-disposable items such as sphygmomanometers and glucometers, etc.
All medical equipment will be stored in the clinic which will remain locked when not in
use. The keys to the treatment room will be kept by the RN on duty
Hypodermics and needles will be kept in the clinic room. The keys to this cupboard will
also be kept by the RN on duty
Items shall be stored in their original packaging and should not be stored directly on the
floor of the clinic room.
Where possible, all items will be stored on shelves for easy identification and access.
Products will not be stored near sinks or where there is a danger of them getting wet or
damp and thus compromising the integrity of sterile packaging.
Cornford House
POLICY NO: P-14
Date Reviewed Issue No:
Jan 2016
7
Page 3 of 3
HANDLING & CONTROL OF DRUGS: (1) ORDERING & STORAGE
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Products kept stored in outer cartons should not be stacked to ceiling height or within
range of electric lighting.