This category focused on the needs of the carer in relation to a medicine user’s medicine taking. Initiatives entered into this category demonstrated how they have helped carers to manage a patient’s medicines or helped them to record, administer or manage medicine taking on behalf of the person for whom they are caring.

Winner:

Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board with Improving Medicines Management in the Domiciliary Care Setting – Medication Training for Domiciliary Care Assistants

It has been estimated that 50% of patients on long term medication do not take it as the prescriber intended due to a variety of reasons, such as forgetfulness, confusion, inability to access medication, or taking medication at inappropriate times. Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board and Social Services have worked together to try to address this issue in the domiciliary care setting.

Domiciliary care assistants are ideally placed to help manage a patient’s medication where they are not able to do it themselves, and daily contact with patients means they are able to highlight potential problems. A joint initiative was launched in order to provide medication training to domiciliary care assistants.

Members of the Local Health Board and Social Services worked together to plan and produce the training which covers how to order, store, administer and dispose of medication; problem solving and risk management.

Training has been well received by the domiciliary care assistants as they are able to see what a difference they can make.

Runner-up:

Bedford PCT with Pharmaceutical Support to Hostels