Controlled Drug Information for Community Pharmacists

Reporting Controlled Drug Incidents

There is a requirement for the NHS Board Accountable Officer (AO) to be notified of all incidents and concerns involving controlled drugs (CDs). 

To report an incident, please see the forms below -

Controlled Drugs Incident Report Form

Guide on Reporting Incidents

If you have any questions, please contact the Governance Team at fife.cd@nhs.scot, or telephone 01383 565351

Further information including the CDRF (CP) Form  is available here - https://www.cps.scot/nhs-services/regulations/controlled-drugs-guidance/. 

Controlled Drug Destruction – Requesting Attendance of Authorised Witness

To request a CD Destruction, please complete the CD Destruction Visit Request form - here

In advance of the appointment, Community Pharmacists should:

· Ensure that all items are recorded in an appropriate CD register

· Check that balances are correct

· Ensure there are no unresolved discrepancies

· Ensure that there are sufficient kits for the volume of CDs requiring destruction

· Have a member of staff available for the duration of the appointment

· Ensure all staff members have the appropriate PPE

Note - There is no legal requirement for patient-returned CDs and pharmacy stock of Schedule 3, 4 and 5 CDs to be destroyed in the presence of an Authorised Witness; the destruction of these must be recorded and signed for in the back of the private prescription book/ patient returned CD register (agreed by the GPhC Inspector).

If you have any questions then please contact the Governance Team via email fife.cd@nhs.scot or telephone 01383 565351

Guidance, References and Resources

CD Top 10 of things to remember -  a thematic analysis of reported incidents in NHS Fife

A guide to good practice in the management of controlled drugs in primary care - Scotland (Version 2, September 2014)

A Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Controlled Drugs in Primary Care – Scotland: Summary Document for Community Pharmacists and Registered Technicians

Form CDRF (CP): Requisition for schedules 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs (this form should be used for the transfer of Controlled Drug stock between Community Pharmacies)

The Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) Network - Free access available on the Knowledge Hub (KHub) 

Legislation

FAQs and other resources are available at Accountable Officers Network Scotland Resource page on the Knowledge hub

Accountable Officer / Governance Team Contacts

Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) - Ben Hannan, Director of Pharmacy and Medicines

email: benjamin.hannan2@nhs.scot

(PA: Kymm Dingwall - Tel: 01383 674169 / email: kymm.dingwall@nhs.scot)

Governance - Geraldine Smith Lead Pharmacist for medicine Governance and Education and training

Tel 01383 623 623 Ext 35867 I Mobile 07824 301415 I email Geraldine.smith3@nhs.scot