There is currently a project being carried out on the haematology/oncology wards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where patients either take their own medicines, or parents or carers give medicines to their child during a hospital stay.
This gives you the opportunity to become familiar with your child’s medicines and learn how to give them safely while we are here to answer any questions. Before you agree to take part, your nurse and the ward pharmacist will talk to you about this project, explain what it involves and what benefits it might bring. You do not have to take part in the project, so please think carefully about it and ask us any questions before you decide.
What does it involve when taking medicines to hospital?
If you agree to take part in the project, the nursing staff will carry out an assessment and assign you to one of three levels of administration. This will be assessed again at various points in your child’s stay.
The level at which you are assessed does not reflect on you or your skills and may well change during your child’s stay with us. The three levels are:
- Level 1 – Your nurse will explain and show you how to administer the medicines
- Level 2 – You will administer all medicines under supervision from your nurse
- Level 3 – You will administer all medicines with no direct supervision
Before you start to give your child medicines, your nurse or the ward pharmacist will explain about each of them, what they are for and how they are given. If you would like more information your nurse or pharmacist will prepare a medicines reminder chart for you to use.
If you do not want to take part in this project, your nurse will give your child medicines in the usual way and provide you with information when your child is ready to go home.
You can use your own medicines brought in from home while you are staying in hospital. Your nurse or pharmacist will check them.
All medicines, whether dispensed at GOSH or brought in from home, should be labelled with your child’s name, the name of the medicine and instructions on how to give them. If your child needs any extra medicines during his or her stay, these will be prescribed and dispensed as usual.
Important information you should know
- Even if you are not taking part in this project, please bring all the medicines your child is taking when you stay at GOSH.
- Please keep all medicines out of sight, locked in the bedside cabinet. It is your responsibility to keep both the medicines and the key to the bedside cabinet in a safe place.
- Never share medicines with anyone. Remember, if they are not used properly, medicines can be harmful.
- The ward pharmacist will check your child’s medicines before discharge. Please remember to return the key to the bedside cabinet to your nurse before you go home.
Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital: July 2009
Ref: 09F0858 © GOSH Trust July 2009
Compiled by the Pharmacy department in collaboration with the Child and Family Information Group
Please read this information in conjunction with any patient information leaflet provided by the manufacturer. However, please note that this information explains about the use of medicines in children and young people so may differ from the manufacturer’s information.
Each person reacts differently to medicines so your child will not necessarily suffer every side effect mentioned. This information does not constitute health or medical advice and will not necessarily reflect treatment at other hospitals. If you have any questions, please ask your doctor. No liability can be taken as a result of using this information.
