The just-in-case box contains medications for pain-relief that are commonly required at the end of a patient’s life. The boxes are placed in the patient’s home, where doctors and nurses can administer appropriate drugs quickly. The just-in-case box helps to reassure the patient and family that comfort can be maintained at home, as drugs can be given instantly without having to wait for a doctor.
It was found that the drugs were useful in preventing admission to a hospital or a hospice and help patients to remain and be cared for at home as long as possible. According to data, NHS Lanarkshire identified that 180 of 219 boxes were used with at least one drug administered as of February 2012, with 84 hospital admissions and 114 out-of-hours calls avoided.
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