Controlled drugs
This section provides information about our role and the legal responsibilities of healthcare providers that handle controlled drugs.
You can also download the Self assessment tools for primary care trusts (PCTs) and acute NHS trusts or independent hospitals.
Our work to oversee the safer management of controlled drugs
Our work involves:
- providing external scrutiny on how other regulators and agencies work together following the Government's response on the management of controlled dugs after the fourth report of the Shipman inquiry.
- leading a national group of the regulators and agencies involved in different aspects of the management and use of controlled drugs, to look at national trends in their use.
- reporting to Government on how partner organisations work together.
- assessing and overseeing how health and social care providers manage controlled drugs.
- taking part in local intelligence networks led by primary care trusts. These networks bring together organisations from the NHS and independent health, and other responsible bodies, regulators and agencies including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, NHS counter fraud and security management services and police services.
Self assessment tools
Tool for PCTs
The self-assessment tool is not a data-collection tool, but a recommended resource to help primary care trusts (PCTs) measure their performance and identify ways in which they can improve. It includes a series of detailed questions around the safe management of controlled drugs, against which PCTs can score their current practices.
The PCT tool is currently under review.
Please note: the tool is in Excel spreadsheet format and contains macros. When you download it, please remember to select "enable macros" to ensure that the scoring facility works.
Tool for secondary care NHS trusts
This self-assessment tool is intended for secondary care NHS trusts and acute NHS foundation trusts. It is a resource designed to help them assess their performance in controlled drugs governance in order to identify any gaps and drive improvement.
Although this tool is aimed at secondary care NHS trusts, large acute independent hospitals may also find it useful in assessing their controlled drugs responsibilities. They are therefore encouraged to use the tool and apply it to the areas that are relevant to the circumstances of their organisation.
Please note: the tool is in Excel spreadsheet format and contains macros. When you download it, please remember to select "enable macros" to ensure that the scoring facility works.
Annual reports
Latest report
In August 2011, we published our latest annual report into the safer management of controlled drugs.
Below are the key recommendations.
- Chief executives and accountable officers should continue to keep safe management of controlled drugs as a high priority during the reorganisation of the NHS to ensure that the gains in safety made over the past four years are not lost.
- Controlled drugs local intelligence networks (CD LINs) need to have robust working arrangements, should be fit for purpose and adequately prepared for the transition.
- Non-designated bodies should also be encouraged to participate more in the information-sharing process to ensure that intelligence-gathering is thorough and complete, capturing information from all sources e.g. community pharmacists, the Ministry of Defence, care homes, substance misuse services and new provider services.
- All professionals and providers of care, whether practising in the NHS or independent sector, should take account of best practice guidance that is published by relevant professional bodies and agencies.
- All sectors should be made aware of the document, Drug Misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management and that it applies across all sectors.
Previous reports
If you want to find out more about our work on the safer management of controlled drugs, you can read our annual reports from previous years.
