What is self-administration?
Self-administration of medicines (known as SAM) is a programme used on the ward to help you to maintain your independence with your medicine taking and allow you to take your usual medicines at the times you usually would at home. It will also help you to take prescribed pain relief and other drugs regularly, even if you are away from the ward or are asleep at the times of the drug rounds.
If you self-administer in hospital it gives you the opportunity to take your own medicines either independently or, if needed, under supervision. In order to do this your midwife/nurse will give you as much information, help and supervision as you need. We will ask you how you are getting on and check that you remain fit and well enough each day, to self-administer your medicines.
What are the benefits of self-administration?
Through this programme we aim to help you to:
- Maintain your independence with your medicine taking, particularly with pain relief after childbirth.
- Understand the purpose of your medicines.
- Understand how to take your medicines safely.
- Understand more about your condition and general health.
How will my medicines be kept safe?
Your medicines will be locked in your bedside locker. You will be given a key to the locker when you are taking your medication independently (the midwife/nurse will be the only other people with access to your medication).
It is your responsibility to keep your medicines locked in your bedside locker, to not take them off the ward and to keep the key in a safe place.
What happens when I go home?
A discharge prescription will be written and the medicines in your locker will be checked against it by the midwife/nurse. The ward will then contact inpatient pharmacy to ask them to check the prescription on Epic and make a supply if needed.
Please remember to give the key to your bedside locker to your midwife/nurse before going home.
We are smoke-free
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.
Other formats
Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/
Contact us
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/