Dosette boxes replaced by MAR sheet

 

Following discussions with our local PCTs and the ONEL commissioners, it was agreed that, from 1 December, all patients being discharged from BHRUT, who require a compliance aid to help them manage their medicines, will be given a 'Medicines Administration Record' (MAR) sheet instead of a dosette box.

A MAR sheet will contain a list of all the medicines a patient is taking, together with full dosage instructions and a monthly calendar so they can mark off when they have taken each medicine. We will provide a copy so the patient can hand one to their GP or community pharmacist if they wish to request a dosette box.

There are a number of reasons for this:

Firstly, there are a large number of drugs that cannot be placed in a dosette box, including: Warfarin, antibiotics, dispersible tablets, 'as required' medicines, liquids, sachets, inhalers etc. This means that, if a patient or carer relies on the dosette box alone, they will miss a number of important medicines.

Secondly, dosette boxes are very time-consuming and labour-intensive. We estimate that the total time taken to prepare each one is at least 2 hours. That time could be better spent in speeding up our discharge process for patients, ready to go home, whose beds are needed for sick patients in A/E 

To prepare for this switch, we have been working with the local social services in each of the boroughs served by the Trust to ensure that their care providers have been trained to use the MAR sheets.

 We will be giving every patient, identified as needing some help with their medicines, an information leaflet telling them how the MAR sheet will help them. 

Please let your teams know of this change in practice and please contact Belinda Krishek if you would like any further information or support.'