Overview
Where possible please try to preserve medication so that patients receive what they are used to taking. If you do have to supply an alternate brand (due to supply issues) please contact to let them know and explain the changes, showing them where possible (especially if the tablets have changed colour, shape, size or number)
Try to dispense tablets in the manufacturers supplied packaging rather than generic white boxes which make differentiation more difficult when they can only rely on the dispensing label.
Where a patient has multiple medications ask them how they differentiate between them – it is always better to stick with or build on a patients’ existing system than reinvent the wheel.
1. Medication boxes
Ask people if they would like tactile markers adding to medication boxes – this might be helpful where people have little or no remaining sight.
You can do this using stick-on 5mm raised bumpons (https://shop.rnib.org.uk/large-round-clear-dome-head-bumpons-2648) – make sure you agree on a code to use.
Price ex VAT: £6.25
Price inc VAT: £7.50
You can also use a heavy permanent marker or add a coloured label to help
2. Medication bottles – tablets
Again, try to dispense tablets in the manufacturers supplied packaging rather than generic tablet bottles which make differentiation more difficult when people can only rely on the dispensing label.
If they have two or more sets of tablets in bottles you can add elastic bands, to make sure these don’t come off please add a small strip of sticky tape.
Where possible please retain manufacturers original packaging for people with sight impairments. Although only 3% of people with sight impairments read braille, some may be able to work out the initial letter or there are other indicators such as size, shape and feel of the packaging that help distinguish between medications
3. Eyedrops
If they have two or more sets of eyedrops in bottles you can add loom bands which are mini-elastic bands, to make sure these don’t come off please add a small strip of sticky tape.
If people have a different regime of drops for each eye you can add a large ‘R’ or ‘L’ to help them distinguish between them.
Please ensure they do not keep eyedrops anywhere they would be confused with superglue or nail glue which can come in very similar packaging.
Where possible please retain manufacturers original packaging for people with sight impairments. Although only 3% of people with sight impairments read braille, some may be able to work out the initial letter or there are other indicators such as size, shape and feel of the packaging that help distinguish between medications