Practice No.
125 / Version 3 / Page 1 of 3 / Last up-dated
Mar 2009
Reference: 10/06 / HCC AS 06/09 / CSCI/CQC: Quality Performance and Methods Directorate : The Safe Management of Controlled Drugs in Care Homes (Jan 07)
The RoyalMarsdenHospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures / NMC Code of Professional Conduct
NMC Standards for Medication Management Aug 2008
GSCC Code of practice for social care workers and employers
HANDLING AND USE OF HOMELY REMEDIES

This defines the arrangements for the sourcing, storage and use of Homely Remedies within the a residential or nursing home:

NB: These guidelines must be read in conjunction with the Medication Management Policy 60/09

‘A homely remedy is a medication that may normally be bought by a person without calling a doctor’.

  1. Residents may purchase their own homely remedies, but whenever possible they must be encouraged to tell staff what they are taking so that a record of their medication can be kept.
  1. Where prescribed medication is also being taken, it will be necessary for the home to check with the pharmacist for possible drug interactions. This includes herbal and homeopathic remedies as they have the same potential for drug interactions and side effects as any other medication.
  1. Where residents are administering their own homely remedies, a full risk assessment must be made and recorded in the care plan, and the remedies must be kept in the resident’s room in a locked cupboard.
  1. A list of homely remedies which may be made available to residents, must be sent to each General Practice which has patients in the home, for the doctors to approve, sign and return to the home. This signed authority must include details of any resident who may not be given a homely remedy. These lists must be kept in the same folder as the Medication Administration Record. (MAR sheets)
  1. Homely remedies must be stored in a separate, labelled cupboard from

prescribed medication. Expiry dates and storage details must be checked regularly and unused and expired items returned to the pharmacy in the specified way. If a tube of cream is opened for a resident it must be kept only for that person and must not used by anyone else.

  1. Homely remedies must only be administered at the request of the resident, or by a designated member of staff, for the condition specified on the homely remedy chart.
  1. Before administering a homely remedy, the relevant list must be checked to make sure that the resident’s GP has given permission for the medication to be administered to that individual.
  1. The guidelines for each medication must be followed, and if there is any query a pharmacist must be consulted before the medication is administered.
  1. A record must be kept on the Medication Administration Record sheet of the date, time, quantity of the medication given, and the fact that it was a homely remedy.
  1. Homely remedies may only be given for a maximum of 48 hours. However, if at any time there is concern about the resident’s condition, a doctor must be informed.
  1. If a medication which is included on the ‘Homely Remedy’ list is prescribed by a doctor for a resident, it cannot be used as a homely remedy for that resident, but must be given according to the instructions on the prescription.

Sample ‘homely’ remedies list

All doses given must be entered on the MAR sheet, with the quantity, date and time. The remedies must be stored in a separate, labelled, locked cupboard separate from the resident’s prescribed medication.

CONDITION

/

DRUG

/

DOSE

/ MAX DOSE IN 24 HOURS / CONTRA-INDICATIONS and
PRECAUTIONS / DOCTOR APPROVED
Constipation / Mist Magnesium Hydroxide / 25-50mls at night / 50mls / Contraindication: Elderly and debilitated persons, those with Renal impairment or Gastro-intestinal conditions.
Caution: May cause colic
Constipation / Senna Tablets / One or two tablets at night / 2 tablets / Caution: May colour the urine or stools
Constipation / Lactulose / 15mls twice daily / 30mls / Caution: May take up to 48 hours to work.
Can cause wind.
Dry Cough / Simple Linctus
Sugar-free / 10mls three times a day, can be taken in warm water / 30mls / Caution: Sugar free linctus can be given to diabetics
Indigestion / Mist Magnesium Trisilicate / 10mls in water
three times a day / 30mls / Contraindication: Do not give within one hour of Digoxin
Caution: May cause diarrhoea
Mild Pain
Temperature / Paracetamol 500mg tablets / One or two tablets four times a day leaving at least four hours between doses / 8 tablets / Contraindication: Persons with reduced liver function, or already taking other medication containing Paracetamol e.g. Co-Proxamol,
Co-Dydramol.

I authorise the medication indicated to be given to residents at the request of the resident or the discretion of the manager.

DOCTOR……………………………………..

DATE………………………………......

PRACTICE……………………………......