This audit was done in July 2010 in an Geriatric Psychiatric Unit. Data collected from 45 drug cards with a total of 368 prescriptions, both psychotopic and non-psychotropic, regular and PRN prescriptions.

The aim was to analyse ?% of prescriptions on drug cards are meeting Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust guidelines in both medics prescribing and nurses administering.

Prescribing guidelines:

Ø drug: generic name, capitals, dose amount, dose unit, frequency, route of administration

Ø patient: full name, address, date of birth (D.O.B.), patient id (P.I.D.), allergy status, team, ward

Ø prescribing doctor: signature, printed name, date of prescription

Ø In general: legibility and black ink

Administering guidelines:

• At administration of the drug, the practitioner must, sign with initials in the appropriate column of the official prescription sheet or introduce the correct code.

The results:

2 tables can′t attach

SIGNATURE AT ADMINISTRATION by the nurses

• • Signed 95%

• • Signed + code 18.5%

• • Administered by the nurses but not signed by dr. 0.5%

Recommendations:

1. 1. Medics and nurses teaching

2. 2. Introduction of the prescribing guidelines in the junior doctors trust induction handbook

3. 3. Notes with prescribing /administering guidelines

4. 4. Special print name box on the drug card

5. 5. Introducing electronic prescribing to avoid missing allergies

6. 6. Re-audit December 2010

The first four recommendations have been already implemented.

The audit has been registered with the Clinical Governance Department. By the time of the presentation of the poster with your permission in March, the audit cycle will be closed.