GB2377413A

GB2377413A - Apparatus including a trolley for medical dispensing

Info

Publication number: GB2377413A
Application number: GB0116887A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aileen Shirley Joan Barr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-11
Filing date: 2001-07-11
Publication date: 2003-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-11
Also published as: GB0116887D0; GB2377413B

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for medication dispensing or topical care for a group of patients. The apparatus comprises an elongate trolley (10) having handle provision (12) at one end and having multi-level supports (14) at the opposite end and is movable on a set of castor wheels (16). The trolley has an elongate cabinet (18) with at least on one major side a pair of closable doors (20). The cabinet (18) is provided with four levels of receptacles of which on at least three levels the receptacles are similar open-topped boxes (24) arranged in a row on each level. The boxes (24) extend transversely of the cabinet (18) substantially the full width of the cabinet (18) and accessible on the or both doors (20) being opened. The supports (14) are substantially semi-circular in plan and on two levels and are provided extending out from the cabinet (18). Each support (14) has an outwardly-extending nosing (26) of a resilient material. At least one support (14) has an infill plated surface (28 Fig 6) with a bowl provision (30). A file holder (32) is provided at the one end.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MEDICATION DISPENSING TO OR TOPICAL CARE FOR A GROUP OF PATIENTS

This invention relates to an apparatus for medication dispensing to or topical care for a group of patients. The use of the word'patients'IS to Include people who are grouped together in rooms or ward (s) of a hospital, a clinic, a care home, a nursing home or similar institution.

A disadvantage of the existing method of medication dispensing IS that In some cases all medicines for all patients are held In one dispensing unit and are dispensed generally therefrom. If several patients are on the same medication then they are provided with that medication from the same source i e a bottle or blister pack of tablets or capsules. Normally, tablets or capsules are given In courses and the above method does not lend Itself to keeping track of whether particular patients have completed their respective courses of tablets or capsules.

There are disadvantages to existing methods of medication dispensing, because of the variety of ways in which medicines are supplied to individual wards/units.

Therefore there cannot be a standardised method of stocking a medicine trolley, and those trolleys which are at present available on the market, are no ! easily adapted One of the main problems always appears to be lack of space, but often this is due to unsuitable fittings, shelving etc This invention also has use In topical care for patients whose minds are confused, either on a temporary or permanent basis. or are forgetful Patients normally have lockers beside their beds into which personal items are placed They have ready access to these personal items. Some patients keep foodstuffs, for example biscuits or confectionery bars, in the same drawer/shelf as steredent (RTM) tablets for dentures and serious situations can arise when these tablets or others are

y mistake and the health of the patient could be affected While the patient may not realise the situation, this IS not perceived as acceptable for patient and Integrity by relatives, fnends, or visitors and reflects adversely against the ment of the institution.

An object of the present invention IS to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages. ccordingly. the present invention is an apparatus for medication dispensing or are for a group of patients, the apparatus comprising an elongate trolley handle provision at one end, having multi-level supports at the opposite end ng movable on a set of castor wheels, the trolley having an elongate cabinet east on one major side a pair of closable doors, the cabinet being provided with els of receptacles of which on at least three levels the receptacles are similar pped boxes arranged In a row on each level, the boxes extending transversely abinet substantially the full width of the cabinet and accessible on the or both eing opened, the supports being substantially semi-circular in plan and on two nd are provided extending out from the cabinet, each having an outwardly- 19 nosing of a resilient material, at least one support having an mill plate with a bowl provision, and a file holder being provided at the one end.

Preferably, a holder to receive a disposable bag for waste matter is provided he upper support. A lid is desirably hinged to the holder to close off the top of a

n fitted, the lid having a knob handle to lift the lid for access to the intenor of Preferably also, each box is compartmented by at least two partitions ) ositioning in the respective box is adjustable A name plate holder IS desirably j at the front of each box to receive a name card for an individual patlenr : preferably further, the fourth level of the receptacles IS a further row of boxes. ively, the fourth level of receptacles is in the form of two drawers, each being of vidth to the width of a door.

Embodiments of the present Invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of an apparatus according to a first embodiment ot the present invention with one door of a cabinet removed for clanty, Figs. 2A and 2B are each an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig 1 from each of the two ends respectively, Fig 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is a side view of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention with one door of a cabinet removed for clarity ; Figs. 5A and 5B are each an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig 4 from each of the two ends respectively.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig 4 ; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a box.

Referring to all of the drawings, an apparatus is provided for medication dispensing or topical care for a group of patients The apparatus according to both embodiments comprises an elongate trolley 10 having a handle provision 12 at one end, having multi-level supports 14 at the opposite end and being movable on a set of castor wheels 16. Four wheels 16 are provided, one at each end and two in the middle, the middle two having aligned axes and being at a slightly lower level than the wheels at the ends to provide greater manoeuvrability when the trolley 10 is being pushed The trolley 10 has an elongate cabinet 18 with at least on one major side a pair of closable doors 20, each with a lockable knob handle 22. The cabinet 18 is provided with four levels of receptacles of which on the lower three levels the receptacles are similar open-topped boxes 24 arranged in a row of six on each level, giving eighteen boxes 24 in total. The boxes 24 extend transversely of the cabinet 18 substantially the full width of the cabinet 18 and accessible on the or both doors 20 being opened

he supports 14 are substantially semi-sircular in plan and on two levels and ided extending out from the cabinet 18. Each support 14 has an outwardly- g nosing 26 of a resilient material. The lower support 14 has an Infill plated 28 with a bowl provision 30 for receiving used instruments such as forceps, which are either for disposal or sterilising for re-use file holder 32 IS provided at the one end While any files may be used with older, the files may have a series of multi-folds. one file for each patient's o be entered thereon, the holder 32 allowing for erection of a single selected that part for patient details being In an Inclined attitude. ach box 24, particularly shown in Fig. 7, is compartmented by at least two s 34 whose positioning in the respective box 24 IS adjustable A name plate 6 is provided at the front of each box 24 to receive a name card for an I patient. n a first embodiment as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a holder 38 to receive a ble bag 40 for waste matter is provided above the upper support 14, the bottom ag 40 extending through the upper support 14 as shown. A lid 42 is hinged to er 38 to close off the top of a bag 40 when fitted. The lid 42 has a knob handle the lid 42 for access to the interior of the bag 40 - he fourth level of receptacles is in the form of two drawers 46, each being of /idth to the width of a door 20 The apparatus of this embodiment is referred to ! ca) care unit and the boxes being for holding various ointments, creams and rescribed for topical care use The disposable bag 40 is for holding soiled s or similar waste matter. The drawers 46 are for holding such as dressing isposable gloves, cleansing solutions or disposable bags. i a second embodiment as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the upper support 14 is the the lower support having an infill plate 28 and a bowl provision 30. This bowl ) 30 is for holding a jug of drinking water, or Juice, medicine cups, drinking

glasses and spoons necessary for use in dispensing oral med) cations while me Dowl provision In the lower support is to hold used items The fourth level of receptacles is a further row of boxes 24 giving the apparatus of this embodiment a total of twenty-four boxes The apparatus of this embodiment is referred to as a medication unit In use, the topical care unit is for holding a patient's topical care items and any other items which the nurses/carers believe is necessary to remove from the immediate vicinity of the patient for their own well-being The doors of the apparatus are kept locked when access is not required The medicine unit is for use In dispensing medication, much the same as presently except that each patient's medication is kept separately In their own named box Again, the doors of the apparatus are kept locked when access IS not required After use of either unit used items are cleared for disposal and replaced ready for re-use Items for sterilisation are forwarded for such.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above.

Claims

CLAIMS ) aratus for medication dispensing or topical care for a group of patients, the ratus comprising an elongate trolley having handle provision at one end, ing multi-level supports at the opposite end and being movable on a set of tor wheels, the trolley having an elongate cabinet with at least on one major side air of closable doors, the cabinet being provided with four levels of receptacles of ch on at least three levels the receptacles are similar open-topped boxes mged in a row on each level, the boxes extending transversely of the cabinet stantially the full width of the cabinet and accessible on the or both doors being ned, the supports being substantially semi-circular in plan and on two levels and provided extending out from the cabinet, each having an outwardly-extending ing of a resilient material, at least one support having an infill plated surface with ) wl provision, and a file holder being provided at the one end. apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care as claimed in Claim 1, : rein a holder to receive a disposable bag for waste matter is provided above the er support. apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care as claimed in Claim 2, rein a lid is hinged to the holder to close off the top of a bag when fitted, the lid ng a knob handle to lift the lid for access to the interior of the bag. apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care as claimed in Claim 1,2 or herein each box is compartmented by at least two partitions whose positioning e respective box is adjustable.

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5. An apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a name plate holder is provided at the front of each box to receive a name card for an individual patient.

6. An apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fourth level of the receptacles is a further row of boxes.

7. An apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the fourth level of receptacles is in the form of two drawers, each being of similar width to the width of a door.

8. An apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An apparatus for medication dispensing or topical care substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.