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Handling Medicines and the Law
• Statement 1
The law states that anyone can administer a prescription only medicine
to another person provided it is in accordance with the directions of a
prescriber.
• Statement 2
Medicines prescribed for a person are that person’s property and may
not be used by any other person
• Statement 3
Doses of prescribed medicines should not be varied without the
prescriber’s consent.
Legal Categories
GSL - General Sales List
• limited quantity
• container sold intact in original packaging
• can be sold from supermarkets and drug stores
P - Pharmacy only medicines
• medicines bought from the pharmacy under the supervision of a
pharmacist
• can be bought without prescription
POM - Prescription only medicines
• medicines that can only be supplied on a prescription
• some POM medicines are particularly potent and are habit-forming, these
are called ‘controlled drugs’ (CDs)
Legal Position Regarding Residents
Medicines in Residential Homes
• Medicines prescribed for a person become their property as
soon as they are dispensed
• The safe custody, administration and disposal of medicines
within residential homes/staffed houses rests on the
authorities that run them
• Recognising this responsibility, local or health authorities
are advised to establish medication policies
Refusals
• In law - no one can be forced to take medication
except when sectioned under the Mental Health
Act
However
• Support Workers have a duty of care to encourage
clients to take their medication
Philosophy of Care vs Duty of Care