Time sensitive medications
Time sensitive medicines are those that need to be given or taken at a specific time.
Staff should always check the pharmacy label for further instructions regarding time intervals between doses and administration in relation to food.
A delay in receiving the dose or omission of the dose may lead to serious patient harm.
Common examples include:
- medicines for Parkinson's disease
- medicines for Osteoporosis
- medicines that contain paracetamol
- medicines that need to be given before or after food
- antibiotics
Staff should be able to prioritise visits to meet the needs of people who need support for time-sensitive medicines.
Providers should always ensure they keep a record of responses from prescribers about queries to medicines.
Further guidance
Time sensitive medicines | Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
Providers can also refer to the Kirklees Good Practice Medication Guidance for 'Medicine roles not normally undertaken by contracted providers' for medicines that use specialist or 'invasive' techniques.