Patient’s association launches care home charter for swallowing and medicines

In Jan 2017 the UK Patient’s Association launched a charter to improve the care of residents in care homes who have swallowing difficulties. In response to a survey results which identified sub-optimal practices with respect to covert administration and medicines administration for care home residents with dysphagia, the Patient’s Association convened an advisory group to address the problem.  Consisting of representatives from care homes, primary care organisations, the nursing, medical and pharmacy professions and leading academics in the field, nine point charters for both patients and healthcare professionals were developed.  With recommendations that medicines and formulation choice be regularly reviewed, that residents are placed at the centre of any decision making and assessment for dysphagia is regularly undertaken it is hoped that residents in care homes will receive better quality care.  Detailed guidance on the charter and how to implement it into care homes is due in August.