Drug-tracking inadequate
Controlled narcotics not adequately monitored in long-term facilities, committee told
Controlled narcotics are being inadequately tracked and monitored at long-term care facilities on P.E.I., says the Island’s auditor general.
On Wednesday morning, members of the standing committee on public accounts heard a presentation by auditor general Jane MacAdam about medication controls in public long-term care facilities. MacAdam released a report on the subject in March, which found that inadequate controls were in place for controlled narcotics in public facilities and that some of these drugs were not routinely counted or reconciled.
MacAdam expressed concern that a lack of adequate controls and accounting could lead to misuse of these addictive substances or could even result in them ending up on the black market.
In her report, MacAdam found that controls and policies concerning the return of unused controlled drugs to the Provincial Pharmacy from long-term care facilities were lacking. In addition, disposal of narcotics or controlled drugs was not being done in accordance with Health Canada requirements.
But, MacAdam also said the scope of the audit had not allowed her to look into drug control and accounting practices at private long-term care facilities. There are currently 595 long-term care beds in public facilities and 1,147 in private facilities on P.E.I.
Both government and Opposition members of the standing committee expressed concern and, at times, frustration during MacAdam’s presentation on Wednesday.
In response to a question from Borden-Kinkora MLA Jamie Fox about how many controlled drugs may be missing, MacAdam said it was impossible to tell.
“Because the controls are inadequate in several areas, many opportunities exist for shortages. But, we couldn’t tell, because the records weren’t there,” MacAdam said.
“That’s troubling to me,” Fox said.
MacAdam told the committee that a ward stock system used in some facilities by Health P.E.I. also made tracking difficult. Under this system, multiple residents consume narcotics from the same blister pack, making tracking of the date and quantity of the medication that is consumed next to impossible.
“Is there policy put in place to handle this, and they’re not following the policy?” asked Vernon River-Stratford MLA Alan McIsaac.
MacAdam responded that the practice was inadequate but had been put in place to limit the amount of narcotics onhand in facilities.
The report included 15 recommendations – six directed at Health P.E.I., six directed at the Provincial Pharmacy and three to public long-term care facilities.
In response to the presentation, the standing committee voted to request Health P.E.I. management appear before the committee to provide an update on its plan to address the issues raised by the auditor general’s report.