Skip to content

Appendix 3 - Staff guidance and procedures for over the counter products for general use

In this section

  1. 1
    Introduction
  2. 2
    About this policy
  3. 3
    Who this policy applies to
  4. 4
    Royal Pharmaceutical Society principles
  5. 5
    Person Centred Care and Mental Capacity
  6. 6
    Duty of care in GSL arrangements
  7. 7
    Carer training, competency and general conditions which apply to medication administration in GSL arrangements
  8. 8
    Medications that trained and competent carers may administer
  9. 9
    Ensuring that people have an adequate supply of medication
  10. 10
    Storing medication
  11. 11
    Administering medication
  12. 12
    Medication records
  13. 13
    Disposing of medication
  14. 14
    Continuity of care when someone is on a short visit away from home or moves between carers
  1. 15
    Side effects / adverse reactions
  2. 16
    Medication errors
  3. 17
    Monitoring medication support arrangements / quality assurance
  4. 18
    Concerns and complaints
  5. 19
    Emergency preparedness
  6. 20
    Implementation
  7. 21
    Review
  8. 22
    Policy Details
  9. 23
    Appendix 1 - Definitions
  10. 24
    Appendix 2 - What must be recorded on the MAR
  11. 25
    Appendix 3 - Staff guidance and procedures for over the counter products for general use
  12. 26
    Appendix 4 -As Required “PRN” Medication Guidance
  13. 27
    Appendix 5 - PRN Medication Administration Record (MAR) - In conjunction with PRN protocol Gloucestershire Shared Lives

Minimum requirements

Staff guidance and procedures for over the counter products for general use

Homes which offer over the counter products for general use must develop in conjunction with a doctor or pharmacist written controls and guidance for staff. These must include as a minimum:

  • which problems (for example headache, cough, insect bite) may be treated with over the counter products
  • a list of medicines / products that may be administered and what they are for
  • possible contraindications with certain prescribed medicines
  • the dose and frequency
  • the maximum daily dose
  • how long the medicine / product should be used before seeking medical advice from the person’s GP or pharmacist
  • what monitoring is required. For example, is the GP informed if the person frequently asks for indigestion remedies? 
  • recording requirements (must be recorded on the MAR)
  • stock monitoring to ensure that medicines / products remain within expiry dates and ordering requirements
  • the names of staff authorised to administer over the counter medicines / treatments

Stocks of over the counter products for general use in the home / centre must be:

  • stored in the original packaging. Information supplied with the product by the manufacturer must be retained.
  • marked with the date of opening.
  • administered only:
    • as authorised by consent or a best interest decision
    • from the original packaging as purchased
    • in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the home or day centre’s procedures
Last reviewed:
Previous Appendix 2 - What must be recorded on the MAR Next Appendix 4 -As Required “PRN” Medication Guidance