Self-Administration of Medicines (SAM)
Patient Information Leaflet
What is self-administration of medication in hospital?
Self-administration means that you or your carer are responsible for taking or giving you your medicines while you are in hospital.
This can help you to:
- Stay independent by taking your own medicines.
- Learn more about your medicines and how to use them safely.
- Learn more about your medicines and how to use them safely
- Taking your medicines yourself, or with help from your carer, can be useful if you need to take them at certain times or quickly when needed.
- For example, you may need to take insulin if you have diabetes.
- If you would like to know more, speak to your Nurse, Midwife or Pharmacist. They will explain how the scheme works.
If you choose not to take part, your Nurse or Midwife will give you your medicines as usual.
Even if you do not take part, we will still tell you about any new medicines or changes to your medicines.
A Doctor, Nurse, Midwife or Pharmacist will explain:
- What the medicine is for.
- How to take it.
- Anything important you need to know.
Who can take part?
A healthcare professional will check if you or your carer can safely take part in the scheme.
They will talk with you about:
- Why you are in hospital
- How you take your medicines at home
- Any worries or problems you may have with taking medicines
- How well you understand your medicines.
Sometimes your health condition may mean that you cannot take part, or that you need extra support.
If you cannot take part, your Nurse or Midwife will give you your medicines while you are in hospital.
If you can take your own medicines in hospital
If the healthcare professional decides that you or your carer can take part, you will:
- Sign a consent form
- Receive a key card or access card for your bedside medicine’s locker
- Be told which medicines you can take or give yourself
- Receive written information about your medicines
- Be given a sharps bin if you use medicines that require injections, such as insulin
- Be able to use medicines you brought from home if they are suitable
- The hospital pharmacy team will check them and provide any extra medicines you need.
Each medicine package will have:
- Your name
- The name of the medicine
- Instructions on how to take it
Your Nurse or Midwife may ask which medicines you have taken.
If you forget what you have taken, speak to your Nurse, Midwife or Pharmacist. They will be happy to help.
You can stop taking part in the scheme at any time. Just let your Nurse or Midwife or Doctor know.
If you cannot take your medicines for a short time
- You may need to stop self-administration for a short time.
- This could happen if:
- You become more unwell
- You need an anaesthetic (medicine that stops pain during an operation or procedure)
- Your carer is not available to give your medicines.
- If this happens, your Nurse or Midwife will give your medicines until you can take them yourself again or your carer is available.
- Your carer should tell the Nurse if they cannot give you a dose of medicine.
Your responsibilities if you take your own medicines
To help keep yourself and others safe, please:
- Only take medicines that are meant for you.
- Take your medicines exactly as you have been told.
- Keep your medicines in your locked bedside locker when you are not using them.
- Do not share your medicines with anyone else.
- Tell your Nurse or Midwife if you miss a dose.
- Tell staff if you think you have taken the wrong medicine or the wrong dose.
- Speak to your Nurse, Midwife or Pharmacist if you are unsure about anything.
- Tell staff if a medicine makes you feel unwell.
- Put used needles straight into the sharps bin provided.
- Keep your locker key card safe.
- Tell staff if you are running low on medicines.
- Tell your Nurse or Midwife if you no longer feel able to manage your medicines yourself.
Need help with your medicines?
Patient Medicines Information Helpline
Tel.: 020 7288 5758 Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm