1.1 Identify current legislation, guidelines policies and protocols relevant to the administration of medication.
The Medicines Act 1968 Classifies medicines into 3 categories:
• Prescription Only Medicines (POM) • Pharmacy Medicines (P) - medicines available from a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist. • General Sales List (GSL) – medicines available from retail outlets.
The Medicines Act 1968 is enforced by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 1971
Outlines the requirements for the prescription, storage and record keeping of certain medicines (controlled drugs). It also defines offences with drugs as those of production, cultivation, supply and possession. Under this legislation, controlled drugs have been categorised into five separate schedules. Care workers may administer prescribed medication (including controlled drugs) to a service user with consent, so long as this is in accordance with the prescriber’s directions (The Medicines Act 1968). This is called ‘administering medication’. However, when medication is given by invasive techniques, care workers will need additional specialist training and be assessed as competent in performing any such procedure. the 1984 Registered Nursing Home Act, qualified nurses have always administered medication to service users – care workers were only allowed to prompt service users to take Since the implementation of the Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the national minimum standards that apply to care homes (personal care) those care workers who are designated and appropriately trained may administer all medicines, including controlled drugs. This also applies to care workers working in domiciliary care (home care). The national minimum standard for care homes (nursing) states that medicines, including controlled drugs for service users receiving nursing care are administered by a medical