Controlled Drugs

Introduction

The UK Health Act 2006 introduced new monitoring and inspection requirements for controlled drugs (CDs). These new arrangements are designed to work within and alongside existing governance systems to promote the safe, secure and effective use of controlled drugs.

Regulations made under the Health Act – the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006 require healthcare organisations to appoint an Accountable Officer to be accountable for the safe management and use of controlled drugs in their organisation.

The Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs is Russell Mackay, Director of Pharmacy NHS Orkney.

Reporting Controlled Drug Incidents

All incidents and concerns relating to the use or management of CDs must be reported to the Accountable Officer. This includes:

• All events or near misses involving prescribing, administration or dispensing of CDs
• Complaints from patients/service users relating to CDs
• Unexplained losses/discrepancies of any CDs, regardless of schedule
• Events or near misses involving CD destruction
• Fraud or possible criminal issues, lost or stolen prescriptions, suspected illegal activity relating to CDs e.g. theft, attempts to obtain CDs by deception.

All CD incident reports must include details of any investigations undertaken and actions taken to prevent recurrence.

For more information, see guidance from the CD Accountable Officer Network: Reporting Incidents, Near Misses and Concerns Involving Controlled Drugs (CDs): A Guide for NHS Staff and Contractors

Link to CD Incident Reporting Form

Please return CD incident reporting forms by email to: ork.DoP@nhs.scot.

Controlled Drug Destructions

Schedule 2 CD stock that has expired or is no longer fit for use must be destroyed in the presence of an Authorised Witness (AW), who has been given authority to carry out this task by the Accountable Officer for NHS Orkney.

Community pharmacies that need to arrange an AW visit for destruction of CDs, contact ork.DoP@nhs.scot.

In advance of an AW visit, community pharmacists should:

• Complete the CD Destruction Form available HERE
• Ensure that all items are recorded in an appropriate CD register
• Check that running balances are correct
• Ensure there are no unresolved discrepancies
• Ensure that there are sufficient denaturing kits for the volume of CDs requiring destruction
• Ensure that a suitably trained member of staff is available for the duration of the appointment.

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. Destruction of these must be recorded and signed for in line with GPhC Inspector guidance.

Good Practice Guidance

• A Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Controlled Drugs in Primary Care – Scotland (v4 updated May 2026)
• Summary document for Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians (v3, updated September 2026)
• Guidance for dealing with spillages/breakages of Schedule 2 liquid CDs in Community Pharmacies (October 2026)
• Instalment Prescriptions for CDs: Updated Home Office Wording (April 2016)