Identify legislation that governs the use of medication in the social care setting
The legislation that
governs the use of medication is Social Care Setting are: The Medicines Act
1968, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, COSHH, The Data Protection Act 1998 plus
equality legislation, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Misuse of Drugs
Safe Custody Regulations, The Mental Capacity Act 2005, The Access to Health
Records Act 1990.
Outline the legal classification system for medication
The medicine Act 1968
classified the legal medication system into three categories
Prescription Only
Medicine (POM), these medications can be purchased through prescription only.
Over the Counter or
Pharmacy Medicine (PO or OTC), these medications can be taken from a pharmacy
without the prescription. Control Drugs (CDs), the prescription of these
medications require medical reason, otherwise consider the under the Misuse
Drug Act (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge, 2003).
Explain how and why policies and procedures or agreed ways of working must reflect and incorporate legislative requirements
The policies and
procedures must reflect the incorporated legislative requirement to ensure that
the people are safe in health care. Furthermore, to ensure that medication is
being administered in a right way and are not causing any potential harm.
Identify common types of medication
The common types of
medicine are antibiotics, anticoagulants, analgesics, diuretics, cytotoxic, psychotropic,
antacids, and laxatives.
List conditions for which each type of medication may be prescribed
The conditions that
each type of medication may be prescribed are antacid to relieve indigestion,
analgesics to relieve pain, antibiotics to fight infections, anticoagulants to
prevent blood clotting, stork, and heart attack, diuretics to get rid of excess
fluids, cytotoxic to treat some types of cancer, psychotropic to treat
depression, laxatives to alleviate constipation (Department of Health, 2000).
Describe changes to an individual's physical or mental well-being that may indicate an adverse reaction to a medication
The adverse changes
to an individual physical and mental wellbeing are nausea, vomiting, swelling,
diarrhea, headache, shaking, swiftness, weight gain, breathing difficulty, and
rashes. The interaction between medicine and contraindication must beck before
use.
Describe the roles and responsibilities of those involved in prescribing, dispensing and supporting the use of medication
The responsibility of
the doctor is to determine the medication is a need of the patient or not. He
should also be careful about the prescription of needed medication with
accurate dose. The responsibility of the chemist is to dispense the medicine
and check if it is the same medicine that has been written in the prescription.
If he finds something wrong should consult a doctor who prescribes that
medicine. The role of caretaker or supporting staff to determine the dose is
given an exact time with the appropriate quantity (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane,
& Routledge, 2003).
Explain where responsibilities lie concerning the use of 'over the counter' remedies and supplement
If a service taker
use is taking over the counter remedy and supplement, I will investigate him
why he is taking it and how. If the service taker share or not, I would report
the matter manager and document it in a care plan. After taking information, a
management plan would be made with the consent of the service taker about the
safety and security of the patient (Department of Health, 2000).
Describe the routes by which medication can be administered
There are several
routes by which medication can be administered such as injection, sublingually,
orally, intramuscular, inhalation, subcutaneous, intravenous, installation
administration, and rectal administration (Archer, & Huges, 2011).
Describe different forms in which medication may be presented
The majority of medicines
formulated for oral use in the form of tablet, capsules, suspension, and
liquid. These medicines are manufactured in different shapes, sizes, and
colors. The solid medicine made for oral use to reduce adverse affect and aid
compliance. The liquid medication must be shaken before use (Sanderson,
Kennedy, Ritchie, and Goodwin, 2002).
Describe materials and equipment that can assist in administering medication
The equipment and
materials assist in administering medication is an inhaler, compliance aid,
monitored dosage, percutaneous, PEG and NG tubes (Department of Health, 2000).
Explain the importance of the following principles in the use of medication
Consent. Consent means the
medication should be given to the patient with their consent. They should be
informed about potential harm and benefit of using or withdrawing the
medication. If the patient refused to take medicine, his will should be
accepted and documented in their signature.
Self-medication or active participation. The service user should be encouraged to take active
participation in self-medication. For example, if they are not comfortable with
the oral use of medication they may use other means of medication
administration.
Dignity and privacy.
The dignity and privacy of the service user must be considered. The supporting
staff should be polite and humble. The needs and desires of the service users
must be the priority of the supporting staff.
Confidentiality.
The use of medication and the treatment that the service user is taking should
not be leak without the permission of the service user.
Explain how risk assessment can be used to promote an individual's independence in managing medication
The risk assessment
not eliminate the risk, but educate or direct the people how to save themselves
from the risk. It does not control the individual behavior but enables people
to do the task on the safe side (Ritchie, Sanderson, Kilbane, & Routledge,
2003). The safety precaution must be ensured while taking the medication, the
pills and substances must be prescribed according to the preferences of the
individual.
Describe how ethical issues that may arise from the use of medication can be addressed
The ethical issue in
the use of medication deals with the moral principles. There are the cases in
which the family request the doctors to stop prescribing the medication due to
the adverse effects on the individual. The ethics in such situation suggest
that the doctor and the patient are the only people who aware about the
severity of the situation and may not stop medication on behalf of a family.
The service user and doctor may decide what is appropriate in the situation.
Secondly, the belief and religion inclination also raise an issue in the use of
medication, such as the vegetarian people discourage the use of capsules
formulated with the gelatine of the animals. In such cases, the matter should
be consulted with the doctor for alternative formulation (Department of Health,
2000).