London - Covert administration of medicines hidden in food and drink is widespread and uncontrolled among care homes and hospitals, new research suggested yesterday. In two examples cited in the report, pills were slipped into marshmallows and sandwiches.
The psychiatrists who carried out the study voiced concern over the secrecy surrounding the practice, the lack of precautions taken, and the potential for abuse.
Dr Adrian Treloar, from the Memorial Hospital in London, led the survey of 34 residential, nursing and inpatient hospital units caring for patients with dementia in south-east England.
It found that in 24 (71 per cent) of the institutions, senior nursing staff admitted that medicines were sometimes administered covertly.