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module menu icon Safe and effective medicines

People who have a disability may require adjustments to services to ensure that they are able to take their medicines safely and effectively. The Equality Act 2010 requires those providing services, including pharmacy professionals, to make reasonable adjustments to services for people who have a disability. Often adjustments have been a one-size-fits approach of supplying multi-compartment compliance aids. However there are potential risks to this solution, including:

  • Problems relating to the person's ability to use the aid
  • The reduced ability of an aid to provide a barrier to water and oxygen and other atmospheric gases, compared to the original packaging €“ this is also true of sealed aids
  • Potential interactions between medicines repackaged within multi-compartment aids
  • The concurrent use of multi-compartment compliance aids and other systems
  • Risks where a multi-compartment compliance aid cannot accommodate dosing instructions or include all necessary information.

There are many alternative solutions to multi-compartment compliance aids, any of which might work better for different individuals.

When working with a person who has a learning disability, to decide which adjustment(s) would work best think about the guiding principles of medicines optimisation and ask the person about their experiences and what is working, as well as what they find difficult about their medicines. Think about the evidence base for the choice of medicines. It might be that the person's medicines regimen could be simplified. You should remember to make sure that you review adjustments.

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