What does the new quality standard for medicines in social care ask for?
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) officials have published a quality standard (QS) designed to ensure medicines optimisation principles are implemented in social care.
The standard is intended to encourage more rigour in the use of medicines in social care, which has often been variable. It is supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHA).
The QS includes four statements:
- adults having an assessment for social care in the community have their medicines support needs included in the assessment
- adults receiving medicines support in the community from a social care provider have their general practice and supplying pharmacy informed that support has started
- adults receiving medicines support in the community from a social care provider have a record of the medicines support that they need in their care plan
- adults receiving medicines support in the community from a social care provider are given information on how to raise any medicines-related problems.
Further information
NICE: Medicines management for people receiving social care in the community
Website: RCGP
Website: UKHA