New guidance from the Mental Welfare Commission

The Mental Welfare Commission has published revised guidance about administration of medication disguised in food or drink and includes a revised covert medication care pathway.

The medical practitioner primarily responsible for the individual’s care should take responsibility for documenting the care pathway, in consultation with relevant others.

All people who receive medication covertly within registered care services should now have a review arranged with the medical practitioner primarily responsible for their care.

If there is the on-going need for covert medication in light of this new guidance the existing documentation should be replaced with the new care pathway. If a decision to give medication covertly has been made, the team needs to consider the practicalities of giving it and the care pathway now includes space to record how each individual medication should be given safely.