Policy for Drug Errors and Poisoning
Policy Statement
With respect to the prescribing, supply, storage and administration of medicines, this home
adheres fully to Standard 9 of the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older
People, the Medicines Act 1968, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Misuse of Drugs (Safe
Custody) Regulations 1973 and the NMC Guidelines for the Administration of Medicines.
Aim of the Policy
This policy is intended to set out the values, principles and policies underpinning the home’s
approach to drug errors and poisoning.
Objective
The home believes that it is important to operate an open culture to encourage the immediate
reporting of errors or incidents in the administration of medicine. This policy is intended to give
staff clear guidance on what to do in a situation where a drug error or poisoning has occurred.
Procedure
It is possible to be poisoned through accidentally drinking or eating poisonous substances,
through bites or scratches from animals or insects, by inhaling fumes or gases or from skin
contact with poisonous substances. Poisoning can also occur as a result of a drug overdose
caused by accidental confusion or resident misappropriation.
In the event of any errors in drug administration the following procedure must be followed:
1. The Home Manager must be informed of the error as soon as possible.
2. The error must be recorded in the resident’s file.
3. The GP must be informed of the error and his instructions followed and recorded in the
service user’s care file.
4. A record of the mistake must be made in the accident book.
5. A statement from the nurse making the mistake must be written and kept on file.
6. The manager will investigate the incident and record the findings and recommendations of
the investigation.
Investigation
1. Registered nurses and care workers who have made an error must be open and honest in
order to minimise the effect on the service user.
2. Registered nurses and care workers who do not report drug errors do so at the possible
detriment to the well-being of service users and the maintenance of standards, and
therefore risk disciplinary action.
3. All errors and incidents will be thoroughly and carefully investigated at a local level, taking
into full account the context and circumstances and the position of the practitioner involved.
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4. A comprehensive assessment of all the circumstances will be made before a professional
and managerial decision is reached on the appropriate way to proceed.
5. When considering allegations of misconduct arising from errors in the administration of
medicines, the home will take care to discriminate between the following categories:

cases where the error was the result of reckless or incompetent practice,

errors resulting from causes and where there was immediate, honest disclosure in
the service user’s interest.
6. Disciplinary or other action will take place at the discretion of the Manager
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Procedure for Overdose causing Drug Poisoning
Objective
Poisoning can occur as a result of an overdose of drugs, through accidental confusion or by a
person’s misappropriation, with or without harmful intent. The objective of this procedure is to
give staff clear guidance on what to do in a situation where a drug poisoning has occurred.
Symptoms indicating the possibility of poisoning
(a) Retching, vomiting or diarrhoea
(b) Unconsciousness
(c) Difficulty with breathing
(d) Feeling confused
(e) Delirium or convulsions which didn’t occur previously
(f) Frothing at the mouth
(g) Blue lips and finger nails
(h) Burning sensation or intense pain around the mouth, gullet or stomach (due to contact with
corrosive poisons)
Symptoms specific to drug poisoning include
(a) Feeling cold and clammy
(b) A weak, rapid pulse
(c) Sweating heavily and an anxious nervous state
(d) Depression and drowsiness
(e) Ringing in the ears
Emergency Procedure
(a) Check for any empty containers near the resident
(b) If the person is conscious, ask what happened immediately, he or she may lose
consciousness at anytime
(c) DO NOT attempt to make the casualty vomit
(d) If the lips or mouth are burned water should be administered to cool them
(e) If the casualty is breathing freely but is unconscious, place in the recovery position
(f) If the breathing and/or heartbeat stop, immediately have a trained person administer
emergency resuscitation taking care to avoid contact with possible poison around the
mouth.
(g) REMOVE TO HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY Call for an ambulance by dialling 999. Give the
full address and any other relevant information; ask which hospital the person will be taken
to.
(h) Call the hospital and supply staff with the particulars that may help identify the poison.
(i) Record the incident on an accident form in accordance with the home’s accident policy.
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