a carers guide to managing medicines
TRANSCRIPT
A Carers Guide toManaging MedicinesFor unpaid carers of all ages
Contents
Are you caring, unpaid, for a friend orfamily member who could not copewithout your support? If you areregularly handling and giving themmedication and feel unsure aboutdoing this then this booklet is for you. Ithas been designed with carers to givemore guidance about how and when togive medication safely. We’ve included a Consent form (seepage 11) to make it easier for you tohave that conversation with a memberof the pharmacy team.
l Taking medication................3l Ordering prescriptions .........3l Safe storage and handling ..4l Discharge from hospital ......4l Pharmacy services...............5l FAQs ......................................6l Young Carers ........................7l Questions to ask ..................8l Useful contacts ..................10l Sign consent page .............11
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For the purposes of this bookletmedication refers to any of thefollowing: pills, tablets, liquid medicinetaken by mouth, ointments, drops,injections.We’ve used the term pharmacy in thisbooklet. Sometimes people refer tothem as chemists.
A Carers Guide to Managing Medicines
When to give medication This will depend on the medicationbut try and keep to the same timeof day. It may help to put areminder on your calendar orphone. If the person you care forhas forgotten to take theirmedication and you’re unsurewhen they need to take the nextdose, ask your pharmacist/GP(family doctor). You can always givethem a ring if it’s difficult to visit.
How to give medicationMost oral medication should beswallowed with water. Read thelabel every time before you give orprompt medication to be taken tocheck that you have the right oneand that you are following theinstructions. Some medicationmust be taken at set times orbefore or after meals so that theywork best.
Ordering and collectingrepeat prescriptions The way you order prescriptions,whether you collect them or havethem delivered varies betweendifferent pharmacies and doctors'surgeries. The best way to ensuremedication is ready when theperson you care for needs it is toorder it a week in advance. Thiswill give the surgery enough timeto make sure the prescription isready. It’s also important to onlyorder the medication that theperson you care for needs.
Buying medicationIf the person you care for has aminor complaint and asks you topurchase any medicine from thepharmacy please always check withone of the pharmacy team if it issafe for them to do so with themedication that they currently take.
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Safe storage and handling All medication needs to be kept inthe container it is supplied in andstored in a cool, dry place. Checkthe label to see if there are specialarrangements for storage, forexample, in a fridge. Make sureyou always wash your handsbefore and immediately aftergiving medication.
Disposing of medications Take any medication that theperson you care for no longerneeds, or is out of date, back toyour local pharmacy; don't keepthem "just in case". Don't throwthem out with your normal rubbishor wash them down the sink or toilet.
Discharge from hospitalWhen the person you care forleaves hospital they will be eligiblefor a Discharge Medicine Reviewwith their local communitypharmacist. You can be part ofthis, with or on behalf of, theperson you care for, with theirconsent. On leaving hospital youshould be given a copy of thedischarge medication sheet whichyou can take to your pharmacyonce you get home. If you don’treceive one please ask at thehospital before you leave. Everyyear thousands of people go backinto hospital because of problemswith their medication, so it’simportant this is checked. Thereview, with your local pharmacist,will check that all the medicationis correct and that they havestopped taking any they no longerneed. It will also explain what themedication does and how best totake it. If you or the person youcare for are not able to get to thepharmacy you can have aconfidential consultation with thepharmacist over the phone. If indoubt ask.
A Carers Guide to Managing Medicines
What can you expectfrom your local pharmacy
Medicine Use Reviews The majority of pharmacists offerMedicines Use Reviews which willbe conducted in private with thepharmacist. This is an opportunityfor the person you care for to findout more about their medicationand understand how they can getthe best out of it, which you canask to be part of. If the person youcare for is on several differentmedications this is also a goodtime to discuss how the pharmacycan help to support you to makeordering simpler.
Additional servicesMany pharmacies offer a range ofservices including delivery ofmedication, late night opening, fluvaccinations, inhaler advice,smoking cessation and advice oncommon ailments. A list ofservices offered should besignposted in the pharmacy but ifin doubt ask.
Looking after youIts important you take care of yourown health as well as the personyou care for. If you have questionseither about your own medicationor common ailments pharmacistscan provide advice and support.Nearly all pharmacies have aprivate consultation room wherethey can hold private discussions.If you are not sure if your pharmacyhas one, please ask. As a maincarer, you may also be eligible for aflu vaccination (jab) either becauseof your own health or where youhave a concern that getting flu mayaffect your ability to continue yourcaring role.
Collecting medicationYou should be able to collect mostmedication from the pharmacy bygiving the name and address ofthe person you care for but youmay need proof of ID for somemedication. If you are under 18,the pharmacist may want to askyou a few questions so explainingyou care for someone will help.
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Frequently asked questions
What do I do if the person Icare for refuses to taketheir medication?Try and get them to speak to theirGP or pharmacist and explain whythey don’t want to take it, forexample it may give themunwanted side effects, it might bedifficult to swallow or have anunpleasant taste. Medication cansometimes be given in a differentform which might make all thedifference.
How often shouldmedication be reviewed?Usually once a year with a GP orpractice nurse. You can alsorequest a Medicine Use Review forthe person you care for, with yourpharmacist (see page 5).
Blister packs – what arethey and how can I getthem? Blister packs are designed to helppeople remember to take theirown medication. However not allmedicines can be put into a blisterpack and blister packs are notsuitable for everyone. Yourpharmacist will be able to advise ifa blister pack would be suitable forthe person you care for.
When I pick up repeatmedication sometimes ithas a different name andpackaging. How do I knowit’s the same thing?Sometimes it may just be adifferent brand of the samemedication or the GP may havechanged the medication followinga review. If in doubt speak to oneof the pharmacy team.
A Carers Guide to Managing Medicines
Young carersMany young people have to pickup and, in some cases, help givemedication (eg pills, tablets, liquidmedicine taken by mouth,ointments, drops, injections) to afriend or family member who can’tmanage to do it on their own. Ifyou are a young carer aged 18 andunder and collecting and/or givingmedication it is important that youdo this safely.
Top tipsThe pharmacist may need to makespecial arrangements for you tocollect the medication if you areunder 18.
It may make it easier if the personyou are caring for contacts thepharmacy to let them know youare coming to collect medicationfor them.
It may make it easier to have themedication delivered to your homeso it's worth asking at thepharmacy if this is possible.
Try to use the same pharmacy sothey can get to know you. Tell theperson in the pharmacy that youare a young carer. This will helpand hopefully they can answer anyquestions you might have.
Please remember, if you haveyounger brothers or sisters pleasekeep medicines where they can’treach or see them. It is especiallyimportant to put them away safeand secure once they have beentaken.
Make sure you read the rest of thisbooklet for other help and advice.
If you can’t get to a pharmacy, youcan always give them a ring.There are useful contacts at theback that may also be helpful.
Questions you could ask the pharmacist
These are just suggestions.
l What does this medication do?l How and when should it be taken?l How do I/we know it’s helping?l What side effects are most likely from this medication?l What should I/we do if these side effects happen?l What if the person I care for stops taking it, or takes the wrong dose?l How does this mix with other medication such as over the counter
painkillers or indigestion tablets complementary and herbal remedies,or with food and drink?
l Will the medication build up in the body?l Do they really need to take all this medication?l Is there anything that can help to remind the person I care for to take
their medication?
l Can the medication come in any other form, for example as a liquid(this can sometimes be arranged for example, if the person you carefor has difficulty swallowing tablets)?
l Is it possible to make the medication label large print to make it easierto read?
l If you want to ask questions linked to a mental health problem yourpharmacist will always be happy to discuss them. One in four peoplewill have a mental health issue at some time in their life so healthprofessionals are quite used to talking about them.
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A Carers Guide to Managing Medicines
Your useful contacts numbers
Name Number
GP: ...................................................................................................................
Pharmacy:........................................................................................................
District nurse:..................................................................................................
Other: ...............................................................................................................
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Useful contacts NHS Direct Wales:0845 46 47
Out of Hours Service:Outside normal surgery hours youcan still phone your GP surgery,but you will usually be directed toan out-of-hours service between6.30pm and 8.00am.
When the pharmacy is closed, foradvice on any health problem anddetails of other health services,contact your out-of hours GP orNHS Direct Wales for healthinformation and nurse advice. Ifyou or the person you care forurgently need medical help that iscritical or life-threatening, call 999immediately.
Local Carers Services
For details of your local carersservices contact either your LocalAuthority, your Local Health Boardor Carers Trust Wales for Advice,Information, support and respiteservices.
Carers Trust Wales
Email: [email protected]: 02920 090087
Useful websites
l Carers Trust Waleswww.carerstrust.wales
l NHS Direct Waleswww.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk
l Patient serviceswww.patient.co.uk
l Community Pharmacy Waleswww.cpwales.org.uk
A Carers Guide to Managing Medicines
Consent formIt will make it easier for your pharmacist to talk to you about themedication the person you care for is taking if they:l know you are a carerl have written consent from the person you care for. The consent form
below has been designed to make the process easier for you. Pleaseask the person you care for to complete the slip below. You can hand itinto your local pharmacy where they will keep it for future reference.
Patient name..................................................................................................
Patient address..............................................................................................
I agree that the pharmacist may discuss information regarding themedication and/ or appliances I am prescribed and how I take them with
Name ..............................................................................................................
Contact ...........................................................................................................
Acting in their capacity as my carer.
I understand I can withdraw my consent at any time, but I must notify thepharmacist if I wish to do this.
Declaration
Patient signature: .........................................................................................
Date: ..............................................................................................................
$
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© Carers Trust Wales 2015
Carers Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (1145181) andin Scotland (SC042870). Registered as a company limited by guaranteein England and Wales No. 7697170. Registered office: 32–36 LomanStreet, London SE1 0EH.
This Community Pharmacy service is funded by NHS Wales. Part of theCommunity Pharmacy Wales Good Health - Iechyd Da initiative