title: Self-medication in acute surgical wards.
abstract: Self-medication of oral drugs is not current practice on surgical wards. We have introduced a system for suitable patients in which they give to themselves all their oral medication while in hospital. This was introduced in stages to gain the confidence of staff. Many patients wish to self-medicate; this system allows better use of the drugs that they bring into hospital from home; more appropriate timing when in hospital and speed up discharge procedures, as the patient is already familiar with, and has a supply of, their drugs to take home.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Arthurs
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sturman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellis
mesh_terms: D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D012646:Self Administration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*