Denise Rigby
Unit47
1.1
Misuse of drugs act 1971….Regulates the dispensing, prescribing & handling of controlled drugs. It requires a licence to stock controlled drugs be held by care settings to ensure they are managed responsibly.
Misuse of drugs & misuse of drugs [safe custody] [amendments] regs. 2007….specifies about handling, record keeping & storage of controlled drugs.
Safer management of controlled drugs regs 2006….requires all care organisations to have an appointed person responsible for controlled drugs in their organisation.
Health & safety at work act 1974….underpins regulations intended to reduce the risk posed by hazardous substances.
All policies & procedures must reflect legal requirements.
Medicines act 1968….regulates the sale & supply of all medicines in the UK & provides a legal framework for how they are imported, produced, licensed, prescribed & administered. This act categorises medicines according to how dangerous they are, what harm could occur if misused and the restrictions placed upon each medicine.
Control of substances hazardous to health [COSHH] regs 1999….requires employers to take all reasonable measures to protect their staff from potentially dangerous substances or materials.
The hazardous waste regs 2005….defines household & industrial waste & includes medicines that are no longer required. Waste medicines from settings providing personal care should be returned to pharmacist. Nursing care settings should dispose of via specialist waste disposal company with waste management licence.
All direct to maintenance of high standards e.g. accidents, spillage, needle stick e.g. PPE use, sharps containers.
Data protection act 1998 & access to health records act 1990….relates to who can see medical records & security of confidential info.
The mental capacity act 2005….assumes:-
A person to have capacity to make decisions
A lack of capacity must be clearly demonstrated
All decisions must be made in best interests of client
Least restrictive options or intervention. E.g. not acceptable to sedate someone in order to stop them wandering.
2.1 2.2
Common types of medication
ANTIBIOTICS….infection
ANALGESICS….pain killers
ANTIHISTAMININES….allergies
ANTACIDES….indigestion
ANTICOAGULANTS….blood thinners
ANTICONVULSANTS…epilepsy
ANTI-EMETICS….sickness
BRONCHODILATORS….asthma
CARDIOVASCULARES….circulation
CYTOXICS….cancer treatment
DIURETICS….excess fluid
HORMONES….imbalances
HYPOGLYCAEMICS….blood sugar
HYPNOTICS….sleeping
LAXATIVES….constipation
LIPID LOWERING….cholesterol, statins
PSYCHOTROPICS….anxiety, depression
Complementary or alternative medicines….purchased from chemist & supermarket e.g. vitamins, nutritional supplements.
Homeopathic medicines….work by treating the whole person. It is believed that a substance in small dose stimulates the body to heal itself.
Herbal remedies….available from health food shops. Used with caution in the elderly. Some can interact with traditional medicines & advice should be taken before. E.g. st John’s wort interacts with epilepsy medication.
Chinese medicines….used to restore imbalances in the body that have caused disease.
Medication requiring physiological measurements.
Blood sugar & insulin, pulse & digoxin, anticoagulation & warfarin, pain levels & when required meds, bowel frequency & lactulose.
You do not need to have full knowledge to assess clinical parameters or to undertake them but you need awareness or the reasons for clinical monitoring & to ensure that these take place as directed.
2.3
Adverse reactions
Rashes
Breathing difficulties
Swelling
Nausea & vomiting
Weight gain/loss
Diarrhoea
Shaking
Headaches
Drowsiness
Constipation
Falls
Thirst
2.4
Orally….tablets, capsules, liquids
Sublingually….tablets/liquids under the tongue
Inhalation….inhalers and nebuliser
Intramuscular [IM]….injected directly into large muscles of the body
Intravenous [IV]….administered directly into the veins
Subcutaneous injection….administered directly under the skin
Instillation