Standards for medicines management

Where to find information on medicines management

• Professional guidance on the safe and secure handling of medicines - we’ve worked closely with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and their stakeholder partners on this guidance for all healthcare professionals covering areas such as the storage, transportation and disposal of medicines
• Professional guidance on the administration of medicines in healthcare settings - this guidance, co-produced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Royal College of Nursing (RCN), provides principles-based guidance to ensure the safe administration of medicines by healthcare professionals
• Advisory guidance on administration of medicines by nursing associates - Health Education England (HEE) guidance

Alongside this guidance, most local NHS trusts and other employers will also have their own guidance on safe and effective medicines handling, which employees should always check and follow when considering their actions.

However, healthcare practitioners may need to consult other sources of guidance for specific areas of practice. We’ve listed some of these below.

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
• BNF Publications
• Other regulatory and professional bodies, such as the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) or Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
• Health departments and training and provider organisations in all countries of the UK
• International organisations such as the World Health Organisation