Medicines Information service (Guidelines)

TAM (Treatments and Medicines) NHS Highland
NHS Highland

The NHS Highland Medicines Information (MI) Service provides advice and support to healthcare professionals in all care settings across NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles.  Based at Raigmore Hospital Pharmacy Department, we provide an enquiry answering service for medicine-related issues (general or patient-centred enquiries), as well as providing advice on cost-effective use of medicines.

NHS Highland Medicines Information Service contact details:

When contacting us, please provide as much background detail as possible.  Patient details, other medication and medical conditions are very useful to allow us to tailor our answer to your patient.

This service is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.  If urgent and calling after 5pm weekdays or Saturday/Sunday please call Switchboard on 01463 704000 and ask for the On Call Pharmacist.  The service is closed on Public Holidays. 

If your enquiry is urgent please call us on 01463 704288.

Argyll and Bute contact details:

Under the current arrangements Medicines Information advice for Argyll and Bute is provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.  If you are based in Argyll and Bute, please contact the Medicines Information Service, based at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley.

Useful training resources/ information

Covert medication administration

Covert medication is the administration of any treatment in a disguised form, usually by administering it in food and drink, so that the individual is unknowingly taking medication. Medication is administered covertly in hospitals, care homes and sometime by carers for people living at home. 

Covert medication should not be used for someone capable of deciding about medical treatment. The guidance applies only to situations when an individual lacks capacity to make a decision regarding treatment.

Anyone considering covert medication should follow the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Good Practice Guide on Covert Medication. This was developed from good practice statements and the law in Scotland.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 31/03/2021

Next review date: 31/03/2023

Author(s): Pharmacist, Medicines Information.

Version: 1

Approved By: Medicines Management and Information

Reviewer name(s): Susan Caldwell, Clare Bagley.

Document Id: FCR101