AQW 45874/22-27
Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast
Tabled Date: 08/05/2026
Answered On Date: 19/05/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the rationale as to why care home prescriptions can only be issued once every 28 days, compared to 56 days for individuals.
Answer:
The 28-day prescribing cycle for care home residents is the established prescribing protocol across the Health and Social Care (HSC) system as it remains the safest and most practical approach for this patient group. Residents in care homes tend to have more complex health needs and are more likely to have frequent changes to their medication. A shorter prescribing interval supports regular review, reduces the risk of harm, and fits with how medicines are routinely managed and safely stored within care homes. Regular involvement from GPs, pharmacists and care staff is essential to managing medicines safely, and the current approach supports that through the 28-day cycle. Medication waste and supply chain considerations also underpin the policy. Medicines waste remains a significant issue; longer prescribing periods in care home where treatments often change would increase the volume of unused medicines. Shorter cycles also allow primary care services to respond more effectively to ongoing medicine supply pressures. For patients living independently outside of care homes, guidance is that repeat prescriptions should generally be issued for 28 days and to a maximum of 56 days. Such 56‑day prescriptions are more suited to those independent patients with long-term, stable conditions, where clinical judgement indicates that longer durations do not compromise safety or effectiveness whilst supporting patient adherence.
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