Top Bristol Maid Medication Cabinets for Care Homes
28 June 2023 | Lauren
Administering medications is an important part of working in a wide range of healthcare environments. Finding a suitable space to store these medications is crucial. Bristol Maid, a well-established manufacturer of clinical furniture, offer an expansive range of medicine cabinets designed for use in clinical settings, including care homes. With everything from controlled-substance units to storage solutions suitable for self-administration, you're sure to find an excellent quality Bristol Maid cabinet that caters to your needs.
How medication should be stored will depend entirely on what type of drug it is. There are two important factors to consider when choosing a storage solution. First, is there a specific storage temperature recommended by the manufacturer? Second, is the drug a controlled substance?
If the answer to the second question is yes, then you will need to take into consideration the legal requirements regarding the storage of controlled drugs (more info below).
Controlled Drug Cabinets for Care Homes
There are certain controlled drug cabinet requirements which must be adhered to when storing controlled drugs on the premises of a care home. According to the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973, controlled drugs are to be kept in a secure, locked room or receptacle (such as a lockable cabinet).
This compact cabinet is ideal for a wide range of care homes, with the smaller sizing making it easy to slot into even the smallest of rooms. The unit also meets the necessary legal requirements for storing controlled substances in care homes, and is designed for optimal safety and protection against theft.
Self-Administered Medication Management in Care Homes
Patients in care homes that are physically and mentally capable of self-administering their medication should be given the choice to do so. Even in these cases, however, staff should be fully trained to offer assistance as and when needed, and to ensure that patients are taking the right amount of the medication and in the correct manner.
What Makes This Unit Suitable for Use In Care Homes?
Designed for use as a bedside cabinet, this easily accessible unit is perfect for those who are bed-bound or have limited mobility. The colourful cabinet can be used for storing non-controlled substances, such as asthma pumps and hay fever medication. With 50mm twin-wheel propylene castors, this unit can be easily transported as needed for maximum convenience in busier care homes.
Storage For Monitored Dosage Systems in Care Homes
What Makes This Unit Suitable for Use In Care Homes?
This wooden cabinet is ideal for storage in even the most compact of rooms or cupboards, and has been designed with a high-quality key-lock for optimal security. The cabinet is supplied with two keys, and comes with space for a single frame for Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS). Using an MDS enables patients and care home staff to record and monitor how much medication is taken, and when.
What Makes This Unit Suitable for Use In Care Homes?
With eight adjustable shelves and eight door shelves, this modifiable cabinet is perfect for keeping multiple patients’ medications secure. The 800 x 300 x 900mm unit offers enough room for storing smaller CD cabinets with enhanced security. The cabinet has been designed to comply with British Standards Specifications regarding Cupboards for the Storage of Medicines in Health Care Premises.
Please Note: While this image shows a cabinet with no light and eight shelves, this is for illustrative purposes only. This unit will be supplied with a 12V LED light and six shelves only.
Why We Love It...
Holes on rear offer easy wall mounting (fixings not included)
Includes a light to make night-time medicine administration simpler
This cabinet is a highly secure storage solution for keeping multiple patients' medications secure. The lightweight design and mounting holes on the rear make fixing this unit to the wall a piece of cake. Also included is a light for easier identification of the cabinet’s contents in dimmer condition
Lockable Medicine Cabinets for Care Homes
A key feature of medicine cabinets designed for clinical settings, such as care homes, is that they feature a secure lock. While key locks tend to be the most more popular choice, there are also plenty of great quality cabinets designed with electronic code locks.
Includes a customisable 4-code lock for elevated security
Adjustable shelves allow tailoring of the storage space
Ideal For...
Key-free security for drugs and MDS packs
Patient self-administration
Not the Best For...
Storing Bristol Maid Controlled Drug Cabinets (see our solution)
What Makes This Unit Suitable for Use In Care Homes?
Featured on the door of this wooden cabinet is a highly secure, 4-digit code lock. The medication cabinet is ideal for securely storing either controlled or non-controlled substances. This unit can also be used to store MDS hanging frames for the secure storage of monitored dosage systems.
What Makes This Unit Suitable for Use In Care Homes?
This controlled drug cabinet is complete with a highly secure key-lock that meets the British Standard BS3621 for thief-resistance. The unit is constructed to adhere to the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973, ensuring that it is appropriate for the legal and secure storage of controlled substances. Also supplied with this cabinet are four fully adjustable shelves, so carers can easily tailor the storage space as needed.
What Is the Difference Between Care Homes and Home Care?
Care homes are environments designed to accommodate the elderly, with multiple staff members available to provide personal and medical care. There are two types of care homes; residential and nursing. The key difference between these two environments is the presence of medical personnel, as in the latter facilities, a qualified nurse should be available at all times.
Home care refers to a chosen carer, whether a family member or hired professional, visiting a private, residential home to offer necessary support and care. For home care scenarios, it is possible to either have a live-in carer, or one who makes regular visits to the home.
Safe Medication Storage for Use At Home
For home care, securing medications is generally less important, as there is generally much less chance of theft. It is important, however, to ensure drugs are kept out-of-reach of children, and to store these medications as instructed by the manufacturer.
Storing medications in care homes requires a solution that is both compliant to manufacturer storage instructions, and one which adheres to the legal requirements of on-site drug storage in residential care homes. It's also important to consider which patients need assistance and which can self-administer, and how your storage solution can help rather than hinder these processes.
To find the perfect medical storage solution for car homes that caters to your needs, explore the extensive range of top-quality Bristol Maid Medicine Cabinets.
