Using your own medicines in hospital

A project being carried out on certain wards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) means you can use your own medicines brought in from home while you are staying in hospital.

• On this ward, you can use your own medicines brought in from home instead of having new ones supplied for you. If you are happy to carry on using your own medicines, your nurse or the ward pharmacist will check them.
• The medicines you bring in with you will be kept in a locked cabinet near your bed. If you run out, the Pharmacy will give you a new supply.
• Sometimes we find that the medicines are not suitable for use or that your medicines need to be changed during your hospital stay. These medicines will be returned to the Pharmacy to be destroyed.
• If any new medicines are prescribed during your stay, the Pharmacy will supply them to use on the ward and to take home.
• All medicines, whether dispensed at GOSH or brought in from home, should be labelled with your name, the name of the medicine and instructions on how to give them.
• Please sign the consent form if you are happy to use your own medicines during this stay and allow us to destroy any medicines no longer suitable for you.
• If you do not want to use your own medicines or do not want your medicines destroyed, please tell ward staff as soon as possible. In this case, we advise that your parents or carers take the medicines back home with them.
• Ward staff will explain about all your medicines, what they are for and how you should take them. If you have any questions about your medicines or any problems with taking them at home, please talk to your nurse, doctor or the ward pharmacist.
  

Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital: July 2009

Ref: 09C0079 © 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.