NEW Reuse of Medication in Care Homes during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Local guidance has been developed and published to provide health and social care professionals working within, or supporting, care homes across Cheshire with practical guidance on the reuse of medicines in a crisis situation where no source of medicine would otherwise be available for the resident with the timeframe required.
This process is supported by the Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) standard operating procedure: Running a medicines reuse scheme in a care home or hospice setting, published by NHS England and NHS Improvement on 14 April 2020.
The locally published guidance:
- Provides practical considerations and steps to ensure reuse of medicine is safe for residents and staff
- Supports the assessment of any medicine that is no longer required for the original resident for whom it was prescribed or boug If suitable, that medicine may be re-used in a crisis situation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key documentation and Guidance for the Reuse of Medications in Care Homes
Cheshire CCG Guidance for prescribers Reuse of medicines. Oct 2020
Cheshire CCG Guidance for administration during COVID-19 Oct 2020
Key documentation and guidance for the management of symptoms in the community during the COVID-19 Pandemic
East Cheshire, South Cheshire & Vale Royal Community COVID Symptom Control Guidance
West Cheshire Community COVID Symptom Control Guidance
Where to obtain further advice and guidance?
The Medication Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) teams can offer further advice and support via email:
- For care homes in South Cheshire, Eastern Cheshire and Vale Royal the MOCH email address is: cheshireccg.moch@nhs.net
- For care homes in West Cheshire the MOCH email address is: coch.carehomespharmacy@nhs.net
Or contact your Specialist Palliative Care Team or Local Hospice for advice e.g. during the out of hours period
