HS311 Medicine administration

Licensing criterion and guidance for HS311 Medicine administration.

Criterion HS311

Medicine (prescription and non-prescription) is not given to a child unless it is given by authorised personnel, in an emergency or as part of the child's treatment as a patient of the hospital.

Guidance   

How to show you are complying

You must make sure that if any medicine is given to a child, that it is administered by authorised hospital personnel.

When assessing whether you comply with HS311

Questions we are likely to ask

Have any children had medicine administered while in the ECE activity room? If so how do you make sure medication is administered by only authorised persons?

We are likely to look at, measure or count

Any medicine being administered, if applicable. 

By following good medicine administration processes services are well placed to support children’s health and wellbeing. 

Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children. Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.

You may consider having policies for what, if any, treatment or medication giving can take place in activity rooms. 

Some services regard the activity room as an emotionally safe place where no treatment or medications can be given. Other services may consider that, for some children, certain types of medication are a regular part of their life and therefore should be normalised and the child’s play should not need to be interrupted unnecessarily.

Considerations might vary depending on, for example:

  • the age and understanding of the child

  • how comfortable/familiar they are with the procedure

  • whether or not it is (or will be) a regular, routine part of their daily life for some time to come

  • whether other children are present who may be distressed by observing the treatment.