Medication Audit - Care Homes

Q1 | Unanswered

Are all medicines stored securely in a locked cupboard or fridge according to their requirements?

Q2 | Unanswered

Is fridge and room temperature monitored daily for medicine storage areas?

Q3 | Unanswered

Are medication administration records (MARs) completed clearly and accurately after each administration?

Q4 | Unanswered

Are MAR charts reviewed regularly for missing signatures or gaps?

Q5 | Unanswered

Are staff administering medicines trained, assessed, and deemed competent?

Q6 | Unanswered

Do staff know what to do in the event of a medication error or refusal?

Q7 | Unanswered

Are medication errors recorded, investigated, and shared with staff for learning?

Q8 | Unanswered

Are PRN (as-needed) medicines administered according to a written protocol and reviewed regularly?

Q9 | Unanswered

Is there a clear procedure for receiving, checking, and recording new medicines?

Q10 | Unanswered

Are discontinued or expired medicines disposed of according to current regulations?

Q11 | Unanswered

Are regular audits of medication systems carried out and documented?

Q12 | Unanswered

Are any issues identified in audits followed up with clear action plans?

Q13 | Unanswered

Do residents have access to regular medication reviews by a pharmacist or prescriber?

Q14 | Unanswered

Are residents (or their representatives) involved in decisions about their medicines?

Q15 | Unanswered

Are staff aware of and follow best practice when administering controlled drugs?

Q16 | Unanswered

Are controlled drugs stored and recorded in a separate controlled drugs register?

Q17 | Unanswered

Is there a policy for residents who self-administer, with appropriate risk assessments?

Q18 | Unanswered

Are homely remedies used safely, with appropriate GP authorisation where needed?

Q19 | Unanswered

Is allergy information clearly recorded and checked before giving medicines?

Q20 | Unanswered

Do staff always check the five rights: right person, right medicine, right dose, right time, right route?

Q21 | Unanswered

Are medicine incidents reported to the CQC or safeguarding where required?

Q22 | Unanswered

Are medicine-related training records kept and up to date for all relevant staff?

Q23 | Unanswered

Are handovers between shifts used to discuss medicine issues or follow-ups?

Q24 | Unanswered

Are topical medicines (creams, patches) recorded and applied as prescribed?

Q25 | Unanswered

Is there a process to follow if a resident is absent or refuses medication?

Q26 | Unanswered

Are medication trolleys clean, locked, and checked regularly?

Q27 | Unanswered

Have any residents recently had a hospital admission linked to medication issues (e.g. overdose, missed dose, side effects)?

Q28 | Unanswered

Have any trends in missed or late doses been identified and addressed?

Q29 | Unanswered

Are staff confident in identifying side effects or signs of adverse drug reactions (ADRs)?

Q30 | Unanswered

Are covert medications used, and is there a documented best-interest decision in place with regular reviews?

Q31 | Unanswered

Can staff describe a recent incident involving a medication error and how it was resolved and learned from?

Q32 | Unanswered

Do residents or their families express concerns about medicines (effectiveness, side effects, communication)?

Q33 | Unanswered

Is the stock level of medicines checked regularly to prevent running out or over-ordering?

Q34 | Unanswered

Are new staff given a practical induction that includes supervised medication rounds before working independently?

Q35 | Unanswered

Have mock medication error drills or reflective learning sessions been carried out to improve response preparedness?

Q36 | Unanswered

Do staff understand how to escalate concerns about a GP prescription they believe may be unsafe or unclear?

Q37 | Unanswered

Are emergency protocols in place for time-critical medications (e.g., insulin, anticoagulants, Parkinson’s meds)?

Q38 | Unanswered

Is the medication support plan tailored to individual needs (e.g., swallowing difficulty, cognitive impairment)?

Q39 | Unanswered

Do any residents have regular discrepancies between prescribed and administered medications, and are these resolved?

Q40 | Unanswered

Are changes in medication following hospital discharge clearly documented and communicated to staff and GPs?