CHS1.2012 Receive and store medication and products

Overview

This standard covers receiving and storing medications and products in a variety of settings, such as hospitals and nursing and residential homes. The medication and products may be from a number of different sources including the individuals who have been prescribed the medication, and from pharmacy. The storage of medication includes stock rotation, maintaining suitable conditions and disposing of out of date stock. It does not include the storage of controlled drugs. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version No 2

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. the current European and National legislation,national guidelines, organisational policies and protocols in accordance with any Clinical/Corporate Governance which affect your work practice in relation to receivingand storing medication and products
2. your responsibilities and accountability inrelation to the current European and National legislation, national guidelines and localpolicies and protocols and any Clinical/Corporate Governance
3. the duty to report anyacts or omissions in care that could be detrimental to yourself, other individuals or your employer
4. the importance of working within your own sphere of competence andseeking advice when faced with situations outside your sphere of competence
5. theimportance of applying standard precautions to the receiving and storing of medicationand products and the potential consequences of poor practice
6. the various methods of good practice and general hygiene in respect of yourself and storage facilities
7. the different places and environmental conditions required for thestorage of medication, including why some medications require special storage conditions and others do not
8. the importance of not overfilling drug fridges to allow air to circulate freely
9. some categories of medication such as �over the counter� and �prescription only�
10. the types of problems which may occur during the storage ofmedication and the appropriate action to take
11. the safe methods of handling medication and products
12. the procedures for the disposal of out of date, damaged orpart used medication and the relevant record keeping
13. the consequences of actingoutside the limits of your role and competence
14. the need to record information inconnection with medication storage and security
15. the importance of keeping full andaccurate records and the consequences if this is not done
16. the importance of immediately reporting any issues which are outside your own sphere of competencewithout delay to the relevant member of staff

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

1. apply standard precautions for infection prevention and control and take other appropriate health and safety measures
2. work within your remit and responsibility
3. ensure the individual understands the need toinform you of any medication they may have
4. ensure the safety of the individuals� medication and care by asking them to hand them over to you for reference to by other staff, and for safe storage
5. record all medication and products received fromindividuals in the appropriate documents
6. tell the individual what will happen to theirmedication and products
7. inform other relevant staff about the medication andproducts received from individuals prior to storage
8. store all medication and productsimmediately in the appropriate place in line with legal and organisational requirementsand record all actions
9. ensure that storage conditions are correct for the type ofmedicine and are in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations
10. handleall medication safely in accordance with manufacturers instructions and adhering to health and safety practices
11. where applicable, check any stock you have receivedfrom other sources against the correct documents and make the appropriaterecordings
12. where applicable, rotate stock following agreed procedures, referring todates of prescription and expiry and dispose of out of date stock or unwanted stock inaccordance with any Clinical/Corporate Governance requirements
13. where applicable,inform the relevant staff:
1. if you identify a problem with the receipt and storage ofmedication or products
2. when stocks of medication and products are low and need replenishing

Additional Information

This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004): Dimension: G3 Procurement and commissioning