Storing medication safely

General requirements

12.1    Medications (including medication for external application, oral nutritional supplements, appliances and medications awaiting disposal) in homes and day centres must be securely stored.
 
12.2    Services will store medications in a dedicated locked cupboard, trolley or room where the temperature does not exceed 25 degrees centigrade.  We will fix mobile trolleys used for secure storage to a wall and keep them locked when not in use.  

12.3    We will store:

• external medications separately from internal medications, for example in a separate locked cupboard or on separate shelves in the same cupboard
   
• medication according to the pharmacy or manufacturer’s instructions and in the 
  original containers/packaging:
  • supplied and labelled by the pharmacist or 
  • as purchased for over the counter products
    
    
• over the counter products intended for individual use separately from those intended for general use. We will mark them with the person’s name
  
  
• controlled drugs as required by law. See section 15 controlled drugs for detail
  
  
• medications awaiting disposal separately from medications which are in use. We will label them so that it is clear that they are not to be used

12.4    Only authorised staff will have access to keys to medication storage areas. Designated keyholders must be recorded in local procedures. Keys must be kept securely at all times. Keys to controlled drug storage areas must be kept separately from other keys.

12.5    We will explain our safe storage requirements to people who are managing their medication and offer secure storage space – see section 7 for detail.

Medication which requires refrigeration  

12.6    We will store medication which requires refrigeration in a dedicated locked refrigerator or in a locked container which can be stored in a refrigerator.

12.7    We will check maximum and minimum temperatures daily with a maximum/minimum thermometer. If temperatures vary from the normal range of between 2 and 8 degrees centigrade, staff must check whether medications are safe to use with a pharmacist.
 
Oxygen

12.8    Administering prescribed oxygen is outside the range of tasks that care or support staff may carry out but may be agreed in exceptional circumstances  - see paragraph 5.7.

12.9    Oxygen is a fire hazard. Staff must seek advice about safe storage from the supplying pharmacist. 

12.10    Oxygen cylinders stored on the premises must be included in fire risk assessments. Warning signs must be displayed in oxygen storage areas and in any vehicles transporting oxygen. Signs must prohibit smoking and the use of naked lights in the vicinity.  

12.11    Oxygen cylinders must be kept upright, dry and in clean condition. Storage areas must be:

• secure to prevent theft and misuse
• under cover where cylinders are not subject to extremes of temperature 
• dry, clean and well ventilated
• well away from storage areas containing highly flammable liquids and other combustible materials and any sources of heat or ignition

12.12    In case of fire, when everyone has been evacuated, the fire warden must alert the fire service to where oxygen cylinders are stored on site.