Should care homes still use blister packs for medication management?

Blister packs have been a common sight in care homes for a number of years and often their neat rows of tablets, sealed into daily doses, offer the appearance of order and control. For many care providers, they’ve long symbolised safety and efficiency: a system designed to reduce the chance of missed or incorrect doses, and to make medication rounds more manageable for staff. But whereas at one time they might have been considered the most efficient option, now they often do more harm than good. 

The reality of the inefficiencies of blister packs is becoming harder to ignore. Care homes are increasingly dealing with complex medication regimes, regular changes to prescriptions, and rising expectations for quality and safety. In this environment, the once-standard blister pack is now falling short. 

Even though the general advice for care homes has been to avoid the use of blister packs for some years, their use persists. This is despite the fact that there is no clear evidence that the use of blister packs reduces administration errors; and even the evidence that supports any benefits is inconclusive. 

Ultimately, while the intention behind blister packs remains sound, their rigid design and lack of flexibility are causing problems, particularly when residents’ needs change quickly or unexpectedly. 

Inflexibility creates risk 

One of the key challenges with blister packs is that they are not designed for adaptability. When a resident is discharged from hospital with a new medication regimen, or when a GP adjusts a prescription during a review, the existing blister pack immediately becomes obsolete. It must be collected, destroyed, and replaced by the pharmacy, which can take several days. 

In the meantime, care staff are often left to administer medications using temporary solutions, such as loose tablets or, especially at one time, handwritten MAR charts. These stop-gap measures introduce unnecessary complexity and increase the risk of human error, which is precisely what blister packs were meant to avoid. 

In care homes where multiple residents may experience medication changes each week, this cycle can become a source of constant disruption. Rather than streamlining medication rounds, blister packs can slow them down and make them less reliable during periods of change. 

The growing burden on staff 

The administrative impact of blister packs is also a growing concern. When packs need to be updated or replaced, staff must coordinate with pharmacies, follow up on delayed deliveries, and ensure that interim arrangements are accurately documented and communicated. 

For care homes still using them, this adds to an already heavy workload. Care home staff are under increasing pressure to deliver high-quality care, manage complex needs, and meet strict regulatory standards. Every hour spent chasing prescriptions or updating temporary MAR charts is an hour not spent with residents. 

Instead of supporting staff, blister packs can become a source of logistical frustration, quite apart from causing potential health risks, creating additional steps rather than simplifying the process of medication administration. 

Better alternatives are already in use 

While blister packs remain in use, many care homes are now turning to more modern systems for managing medication. In particular, original pack dispensing (OPD), where medications are administered directly from manufacturer packaging, is gaining ground, especially when paired with an eMAR system like ATLAS eMAR. 

These systems allow care teams to access real-time medication records, automate the scheduling and logging of doses, and quickly implement changes to prescriptions without waiting for new packaging. For staff, this means fewer delays, clearer documentation, and less room for confusion or error. 

Some of the benefits of moving away from blister packs include: 

• Faster implementation of prescription changes 

• Reduced dependency on pharmacy delivery cycles 

• Improved audit trails and compliance reporting 

• Easier onboarding of new or agency staff through digital support tools 

• For residents, the result is safer, more responsive care. For staff, it means a more manageable workload and a clearer overview of each resident’s medication needs. 

Medication stability and labelling concerns 

Another issue with blister packs is the potential impact on medication stability. Some medicines are sensitive to moisture, air, or light, and removing them from their original packaging, as blister packs require, can reduce their shelf life or effectiveness. 

Furthermore, blister packs don’t always clearly identify which tablet is which. When multiple medications are packed into a single compartment, or when staff are unfamiliar with the appearance of certain pills, the risk of confusion increases. 

Original packaging, on the other hand, preserves full manufacturer labelling and usage instructions. This helps ensure medications are stored appropriately and administered with confidence, especially by staff who may be covering shifts or supporting residents they’re less familiar with. 

Sustainability matters 

Beyond safety and workflow, there is also an environmental case for reconsidering blister packs. These packs typically combine plastic and foil, making them difficult to recycle. Over the course of a year, a single care home can generate thousands of blister packs, most of which end up in landfill. 

Switching to original packaging reduces waste, supports sustainability goals, and aligns with growing expectations around environmental responsibility in the healthcare sector. 

Regulatory support for change 

The move away from blister packs is not just being driven by care homes themselves. Some NHS regions, pharmacy leaders, and regulators have begun discouraging their use, pointing to the lack of evidence that they reduce medication errors. 

Instead, the focus is shifting towards: 

• Robust digital systems 

• Comprehensive staff training 

• Clear processes for safe medication management using original packaging 

This reflects a wider shift across health and social care, where flexibility, safety, and resident-centred care are taking priority over outdated routines. 

A turning point for medication management 

Blister packs once represented a step forward in medication safety. But today’s care environment demands more adaptable, agile solutions. With better systems now available, and growing evidence of their benefits, it’s time to rethink long-held assumptions. 

Care homes that move away from blister packs can expect fewer delays, better oversight, and a more efficient workflow. More importantly, they can provide safer, more personalised care to residents, supported by digital tools and practices designed for modern healthcare.