Controlled drugs

Page last updated: 16 September 2024

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Controlled Drugs National Group

The Controlled Drugs National Group is led by CQC. It looks at national controlled drugs governance in England.

It provides collaboration, consistency and assurance to government by:

  • sharing intelligence
  • highlighting good practice and areas of concern
  • reporting on the impact of controlled drugs arrangements

Membership of the national group

Care Quality Commission

Department of Health

General Medical Council

General Pharmaceutical Council

Health and Social Care Information Centre

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales

Medicines Advice (Medicines and Prescribing Centre) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Ministry of Defence

National Police Chiefs’ Council

NHS Counter Fraud Authority

NHS England (including Health and Justice Commissioning)

The Home Office

UK Anti-doping

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Sub-Groups

4 sub-groups provide expert advice to the national group and issue newsletters. They cover these aspects of controlled drugs:

  • theft and fraud
  • monitoring prescribing
  • safe prescribing, dispensing and administration
  • policy and operational issues

Sub-group members are from the national group as well as invited specialists.

Sub-Group newsletters

These newsletters report the group’s findings. They point you to guidance and share examples of good practice and local initiatives. Providers may follow different approaches based on their local needs.

Latest newsletters

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: April 2021

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: December 2020

This gives an example of how a specific organisation responded locally to safety concerns around Alfentanil.

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: July 2020

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: April 2020

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: December 2019

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: July 2019

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: December 2018

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: August 2018

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: May 2018

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: volume 2, December 2017

Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: volume 1, September 2017

Previous newsletters and guidance

See our earlier newsletters and guidance on safety incidents and checklists on the National Archives.