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Introduction to medicines in care settings

What is your responsibility in relation to administering medicines to residents and patients? Read the article to find out more.
Three students smiling whilst in a discussion around a table
As a care worker or carer, it is important to know what the laws are when administering medicines to residents or patients.

Knowledge of the laws will allow you to identify your responsibilities. Each care setting should have a medicines protocol which outlines the process of requesting supplies of medicines, storing medicines, supplying and administering medicines should be carried out. For example medicines liable for abuse need to be locked away in a controlled drugs cabinet.

We also need to be able to keep accurate records and assess that we are getting the right result from the medical treatment for the resident.

By the end of this week you should be able to:

  1. State the legislation and guidance around medicine supply and administration

  2. Describe the purpose of the ‘medicines protocol’ which can be found in every care home

  3. Describe the different levels of medicines classification

  4. Name examples of different types of medicines

© University of East Anglia
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Medicine Administration for Carers

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