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Abstract
Background As part of the Scottish Government’s commission to enhance and develop the role of Healthcare Support Workers (HCSW), NHS Education for Scotland and key stakeholders developed a framework for the administration of medicines ‘Promoting Effective Medicines Administration Practice’ (PEMAP) for Level 3 and 4 HCSW in Scotland.
Aim The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice (PPWH) adopted the PEMAP framework and supported two band 4 Advanced Healthcare Support Workers (AHSW) within the hospice’s Young Adult Service to administer medications. This will ensure that young adults using PPWH services have their medications when they need them and in a safe way. Training and support commenced in January 2024.
Methods
Multidisciplinary steering group was established to develop a Standard Operating Procedure to govern this new role and to collate common medications used by young adults, identifying which drugs could be administered by AHSWs within their scope of practice.
Generic risk assessment undertaken to identify/mitigate potential risks associated with AHSWs administering medicines.
Ensured that existing indemnity/liability insurance covered AHSWs’ clinical practice to administer medicines.
Identified registered nurses as mentors/assessors for the PEMAP programme, utilising the competency assessment tool to assess direct procedural skills against observable parameters.
The AHSWs completed the two–part PEMAP education programme, online via TURAS (an online health and social care learning resource platform).
Results Two AHSWs within the Young Adult Service completed their PEMAP training/competency and are:
Aware of their responsibilities/scope of practice.
Competent to administer medication safely.
Understand the risks associated with medicines management.
Aware of policies/procedures in the event of any incident involving medication.
Conclusion The PEMAP framework supported a consistent/safe approach to developing the role of AHSW for the administration of medicines within the Young Adult Service, which is mainly staffed by HCSWs. It supports wider workforce development and succession planning for future hospice roles within palliative care.