Medicines administration
In the absence of automatic checking and prompting, the process of the administration of medication needs to be overseen by the nurse in charge of the ward, or his/her nominated delegate. A frequent check needs to be done to ensure that all patients have received what they have been prescribed and what they need. This is particularly the case when patients are moved from one ward to another, or they are returned to the ward after treatment.
- NHS England published guidance in 2018 on the responsibilities for prescribing and the transfer of care between primary and secondary settings (Responsibility for prescribing between primary & secondary/tertiary care, NHS England, 2018).
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council updated its professional Code in 2015, which includes standards for the safe administration of medicines (The Code, NMC, March 2015).
- No further published evidence specific to the requirement for the nurse in charge to oversee all medication administration has been identified since 2018.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" in March 2013. Key reforms included a new Chief Inspector of Hospitals, strengthened Care Quality Commission inspection regime, a statutory duty of candour, and the fit and proper person test for NHS directors. Volume 2 (Cm 8754) contains the government's detailed responses to each of the 290 recommendations. See: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7cd486ed915d63cc65d167/34658_Cm_8777_Vol_1_accessible.pdf
Progress Timeline
DHSC and NHS England implementation update provided to the Thirlwall Inquiry (April 2025). This is the government's own account of progress, submitted to the inquiry. Reviewed extent of implementation: Superseded. This recommendation predates latest guidance from professional regulators on prescribing standards and practice including the GMC and NMC. NICE also provides guidance on medicines safety NHS England also provide guidance (2018) aiming to provide clarity on the responsibilities of all professionals involved in commissioning and prescribing across primary, secondary and tertiary care and to provide support in developing shared care agreements and in the transfer of care.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Research published 2023 marking ten years since the Francis Report found mixed results. Structural and legislative changes largely delivered (duty of candour, FPPR, CQC overhaul, revalidation, Freedom to Speak Up Guardians). However, cultural change not fully embedded; understaffing, fear of speaking up, and poor complaint handling persist in parts of the NHS.
NMC Revalidation launched 1 April 2016 in direct response to Francis Report. All nurses and midwives must revalidate every three years. Replaced the Post-Registration Education and Practice system. Updated NMC Code published March 2015 strengthened requirements around candour and raising concerns.
NMC published updated Code of Professional Standards for nurses and midwives (March 2015). Standard 14 specifically requires nurses and midwives to be open and candid with all service users about all aspects of care, including when mistakes or harm have occurred.
Government published "Culture Change in the NHS" (Cm 9009) reporting progress on all 290 recommendations. Key achievements: 19 hospitals placed in special measures; those trusts recruited 109 additional doctors and 1,805 additional nurses; 129 board-level changes made; excess avoidable deaths fell by 450 in less than a year.
Government published "Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) in two volumes. Vol 1 set out new actions; Vol 2 provided detailed response to each of the 290 recommendations. Approximately 204 of 290 recommendations were fully accepted.