Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if there is a policy document under the remit of his Department, the Health Service Executive or Health Information and Quality Authority which covers the control and administration of medicines by domiciliary care agencies; if so, if he will furnish a copy of this document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55333/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Organisations providing domiciliary care services, either on behalf of the State (i.e. Health Service Executive) or private domiciliary care services, may be involved in the provision of care and support to many types of patients, such as older persons, persons with disabilities and other patients in the patients’ own home. In domiciliary care situations where the patient is receiving care in their own home, prescription medicines must be prescribed for the patient by a medical practitioner or nurse prescriber. The medicines must be dispensed by a pharmacist for the individual patient, and appropriate records must be kept by both the prescriber and the pharmacist. Persons providing domiciliary care services are required by law to administer medicines in accordance with the prescription and the instructions of the patient's prescriber. In addition, for certain patients who are experiencing difficulties in managing their own medicines at home, many pharmacies will dispense medicines in a monitored dosage system which will help the patient to adhere to their particular medication schedule.

Residential care services are services where care is provided to the patient / resident in centres such as nursing homes and other residential facilities. The Health Information and Quality Authority has issued general standards for residential care centres providing care to older persons which set out range of requirements to be complied with including standards on the management of patients' / residents' medicines in these care settings. In addition, An Bord Altranais has issued professional guidance to nurses regarding the appropriate management and administration of medicines to patients in such residential care settings and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has also issued professional guidance to all pharmacists involved in the dispensing and supply of medicines to these patients.