1.1 Identify current legislation, guidelines, policies and protocols relevant to the administration of medication
The UK has legislation, guidelines, policies, and protocols in place to ensure the safe administration of medications. The Medicines Act 1968 sets out the legal framework for medicine regulation in England and Wales and is administered by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This legislation provides guidance on controlling access to dangerous drugs as well as prescription-only medications.
In addition to this act, there are various regulations, including The Human Medicines Regulations 2012, which cover pharmaceutical safety, such as licensing arrangements for medication manufacturers, clinical trials, and product specifications. These regulations outline who can prescribe medication or administer it under the direction of a doctor or pharmacist, including nurses.
The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence provides evidence-based guidance regarding best practice prescribing processes, which pharmacists must follow when giving advice about taking medications safely, such as drug interactions and side effects. In accordance with this service, providers will have specific policies and procedures relating to how their staff handle patient information responsibly when dealing with medication matters, such as prescriptions and drug recalls.
Furthermore, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has produced the Code of Ethics & Conduct for Pharmacists, which details professional behaviour in the area of pharmaceutical care. This code must be followed at all times when dealing with medication-related activities, such as compounding and supplying medicines. It also outlines guidelines for patient confidentiality issues when handling personal information about medications or treatments being administered to a patient or prescribed by a doctor or consultant pharmacist involved in their care.
In addition, The General Pharmaceutical Council provides standards guidance documents that cover areas such as “standards relating to medicine management” and ethical considerations regarding how pharmacies store and dispense drugs safely. All of these regulations are essential in safeguarding public health interests, which is paramount when providing medication support services within the UK healthcare system today.
Other answers in the full document:
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2.1 Describe common types of medication including their effects and potential side effects.
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2.2 Identify medication which demands specific physiological measurements.
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2.3 Describe the common adverse reactions to medication, how each can be recognized and the appropriate action(s) required
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2.4 Explain the different routes of medicine administration
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3.1 Explain the types, purpose and function of materials and equipment needed for the administration of medication via the different routes.
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3.2 Identify the required information from prescriptions/ medication administration charts
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4.2 Explain ways to ensure the appropriate timing of medication.
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5.3 Describe how to report any immediate problems with the administration.
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5.5 Explain why it may be necessary to confirm that the individual actually takes the medication and does not pass the medication to others.
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5.8 Describe how to dispose of out of date and part-used medications in accordance with legal and organizational requirements