The Governments response to the Shipman Inquiry’s Fourth Report was set out in Safer Management of Controlled Drugs. Accepting the need to strengthen current systems for managing controlled drugs it set out a substantial programme to aid improvement and strengthen governance arrangements through amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (2001). Significant new responsibilities to healthcare organisations resulted from these changes including Regulations laid by The Health Act (2006) to improve governance and monitoring arrangements for controlled drugs.
As you are aware the results of these changes has required the PCT to appoint an Accountable Officer, namely Alison Issott, Assistant Director of Medicines Management.
Alison Issott
Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent
Medicines Management Team
Kent House
81 Station Road
TN23 1PP
Tel: 01233 618158 / 618140
Fax: 01233 618195
Email: Alison.issott@eastcoastkent.nhs.uk
Practices should particularly take note of the following:
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The Accountable Officer must be informed of all Significant events that involve Controlled Drugs
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GPs should inform the Accountable Officer in the event of a change in the management of Controlled Drugs at the practice
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Prescriptions should be for a maximum of 30 days for all Schedule 2 and 3 Controlled Drugs (including Temazepam) unless a clinical reason for an exception to this is documented in the notes
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All practices are required to submit an annual declaration (template below)
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All practices are required to have a standard operating procedure relating to controlled drugs even if they do not hold controlled drugs in the practice (template below)
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Practices must not include controlled drugs as part of a repeat dispensing scheme (including temazepam)
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It is good practice for controlled drug prescriptions to be separated from other prescriptions when given to the GP for signing.
Controlled Drug Regulations
Statutory Instrument 2006 No3148 The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No. 3148) came into force in January 2007.
National Prescribing Centre (NPC) Guidance
A guide to good practice in the management of controlled drugs in primary care (England).
Opioid Prescribing Benchmarking Policy
Benchmarking policy to ensure safe and appropriate prescribing of opioid medicines.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Annual Declaration
Controlled Drugs Destruction
If you have any out of date Controlled Drugs to be witnessed for destruction, please contact the Medicines Management Team on 01233 618518 / 618140 or complete and return a form.
ePACT monitoring
Please be aware that the team monitor GP prescribing quarterly. Any prescribing over 30 days will be picked up and a letter requesting an explanation will be sent.
Controlled Drugs Requisitions
If you need a Controlled Drugs Requisition form, please contact the KPCA Supplies Team on 01622 751201.
Incident Reporting System
The aim of the Incident Reporting System is to reduce the number of incidents related to medication through a robust risk management system.
All actual incidents and near miss/potential incidents (including controlled drugs) need to be recorded on a Incident Reporting Form.
Please Note: This will NOT apply to the PCT managed GP Practices. The original SafeMed Drug Error Reporting System will continue via Sarah Leaver Head of Community Health Pharmacy, Community Services.
