Patients’ safety in old people’s homes is at risk from widespread inappropriate practices for dispensing and documenting medication, a nationwide audit has found.

Nearly half of old people’s homes have unsatisfactory documentation for medication and one in five do not dispense medication “appropriately”.

“Treatment charts were not signed when the actual medication was dispensed. Inappropriate dispensing and documentation of treatment may lead to errors, jeopardising patient safety,” the auditors noted.

The auditors are recommending that all homes ensure safe dispensing and documentation practices are adopted and adhered to. The observations were made in an audit of residential old people’s homes conducted by the Office of the Commissioner for Mental Health and Older Persons.

More on the e-paper on timesofmalta.conm Premium. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140312/local/Fears-for-safety-of-elderly-in-homes.510261