Hi JISC-mailers,
Good thread to start, but what a stone to overturn!
Technically Group Patient Directions only apply to the NHS and even then
only in England (at least that was the position last year). The
professional advisory service at UKCC suggest:
"Patient Group Directions are not currently in place outside of the NHS
in England. The situation may well be resolved by putting in place a
properly worked up protocol, using the framework of PGD’s, which will
not only give you clear guidance but provide increased safety factors
for both patients and yourselves."
Criteria for establishing Patient Group Directions are outlined within
NHS Executive Health Service Circular: HSC 2000/02
(Issued 9 August 2000). Further details regarding Patient Group
Directions are available from:
Colin Pearson
6E59 Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Tel: 0113 2545975
Email: [log in to unmask]
Copies of the Health Service Circular can be downloaded from the
Department of Health web site: www.doh.govuk/coinh.htm
It is interesting to note that the Medicines Control Agency (the
regulator under the Medicines Act) have publicly stated that they are
unlikely to prosecute - unless public safety is severely threatened. I
urged on the side of caution - 'unlikely to' not being strong enough to
protect me or my team - and have stopped all medicine administration RN
or not!
There is of course a whole other debate surrounding what role medication
has in effective OH anyway.
One final note on first aiders - they are allowed to administer aspirin
to CHEW in severe chest pain ONLY. Their 'cover' is afforded by the
precedent set by somebody v St John Ambulance which I vaguely recall is
cited on the back page of the authorised First Aid Manual.
regards to all,
Lorenzo Visentin
BSc(Hons), RN, SPOHN, MIOSH,
Group Health Manager, Europe
Direct-tel: +44 (0)1432 362214
Direct-fax: +44 (0)1432 362421
Sun Valley Foods, HEREFORD, HR4 9PB
This email and the information it contains are confidential and may be
privileged. You must obtain the consent of the Risk/Plant Ops group
before sharing this confidential information with any other person
[inside or outside Cargill]. FAILURE TO OBTAIN SUCH CONSENT CONSTITUTES
A BREACH OF THE CARGILL PRIVACY POLICY.
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 March 2002 11:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Administration of Drugs
Hello
I'm surprised that while there's been a lot of discussion about first
aiders administering medicines, there's not been anything about
occupational health nurses administering medicines, or whether Extension
of
Independent Nurse Prescribing has any implications for occupational
health
nurse practice.
Do all occupational health nurses who give out analgesics,
antihistamines,
immunisations etc work to patient group directives? Do they need to?
Does
the 1968 Medicines Act still apply to occupational health nurses?
Bashyr
|