dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d)

This programme helps staff understand what the NHS dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d) is, why it is important, and how it can be used safely across secondary care settings in England. The programme has 3 elearning sessions, each taking around 25 minutes to complete.

Intended audience

• Clinical and non-clinical staff who need a simple overview of dm+d
• Clinical staff who make decisions about medicines
• Organisations and teams preparing to implement or improve their use of the dm+d standard in hospitals, clinics, and community care

Key areas covered

The sessions explain:

• What dm+d is and how it supports safer, clearer medicine information
• Why using dm+d is important, including the benefits for patients and staff
• How to adopt dm+d, including practical steps, NHS Blueprinting, and what is needed to meet the national information standard (DAPB 4013)

Learning objectives

By completing the programme, learners will:

• Understand the purpose of dm+d and how it supports patient safety
• Know the benefits of adopting the dm+d standard across different care settings
• Identify who needs to be involved in successful implementation
• Learn what organisations must do to be compliant with the national standard for medicine and allergy/intolerance data
• Become familiar with supporting resources, such as the Terminology and Classifications webpages and NHS England updates