Administration of medication in residential aged care
The Victorian Government has passed a Bill to include new provisions in
the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 and the Nurses
Act 1993.
The new provisions had effect from 30 May 2006, and coincided with the making
of the new Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006.
The changes to the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act require
approved providers of residential aged care to ensure that administration
of medication to all high care residents is managed by a Registered Nurse
Division 1,3 or 4. This means that the administration of medication to high
care residents must now be managed by a nurse rather than necessarily administered
by a nurse in every instance. The approach will make better use of skilled
professional resources, is consistent with nursing and other health workforce
trends and will improve quality of care for residents not presently covered
by regulation, without requiring that a nurse administer every dose of medication
in every instance.
The change will shift the focus of regulation from the setting to the resident,
ensuring that high care residents receive the same protection under the law
wherever they live. It extends the coverage from high care residents in nursing
homes to all high care residents of residential aged care services. The amendment
extends coverage of regulation and professional supervision of administration
to more than 9,500 additional residents.
For further information refer to the Drugs
and Poisons Control in Victoria website, Department of Human Services for the following information:
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