Important notice:
From 15th May 2012, the team delivering the work of the NPC will form the NICE Medicines and Prescribing Centre and will sit alongside the Clinical Guidelines team within the Centre for Clinical Practice.
As part of NICE, all future Medicines and prescribing outputs will be published on the NICE website and signposted from the Medicines and prescribing home page.
Controlled drugs - AO handbook
Introduction to the document
In response to the Shipman Inquiry Fourth Report, the Government introduced a range of measures to strengthen the systems for managing CDs to minimise the risks to patient safety of inappropriate use. The new arrangements are underpinned by the Health Act 2006 and The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006 made under the provision of the Act.
The requirements and responsibilities of the Accountable Officer (AO) are set out in regulations 3 to 31 of the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006. The requirements should be implemented in such a way as to work within and alongside existing governance systems and should be seen as an integral part of the overall drive to improve quality in healthcare. The requirements maximise the ability to detect poor practice by combining information gathered in the use and management of CDs with information on other aspects of clinical practice.
The purpose of this handbook is to help Accountable Officers (AOs) to fulfil their role, particularly for those new to the post. The handbook will emphasise legal requirements as well as provide recommendations for further reading. The handbook is intended to supplement existing guidance produced by the Department of Health (DH) to underpin the regulations and will complement any additional face to face training designed to support AOs.
The day to day duties of the AO may vary depending on the organisation in which the AO is employed; however, the principles of the legislation and the organisational responsibilities of the role will be the same in all environments. This handbook will reflect any specific duties according to the healthcare setting for which the AO has responsibility although all AOs should read and familiarise themselves with the opening chapters and core elements of the role.
Note:
This edition of the handbook has been written to reflect the healthcare organisational structure that presently exists. In time, there will need to be amendments to regulations to reflect changes in primary care. AOs will need to remain aware of future amendments to regulations.
Key audience
The handbook will be relevant for all Accountable Officers and AO support staff in Primary Care, Secondary Care, Ambulance Services, Mental Health Services, Hospices, Independent Hospitals
How to use the document
This handbook has been developed to assist all AOs in their role with separate sections covering what this will mean for AOs within different settings. There are however the core responsibilities that must be undertaken by all AOs in all environments. These have been detailed in section 2 of the handbook together with the legal requirements for the role and the associated references within the regulations.
Each section can be accessed separately or the complete handbook can be accessed as a single document. An AO, or personnel supporting an AO, should review the section/s most relevant to their healthcare setting and utilise the aide memoire checklist, provided for each setting, as a quick reference point.
The aide-memoire checklists are not intended to replace the self-assessment scoring tools for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and NHS Acute Trusts provided by CQC but will help to set a baseline position at a single point in time, such as when a new AO is appointed, from which to move forward with the role.
Download
The handbook is available to download both in full and as individual sections. The Aide-Memoire checklists are also available as individual downloads allowing you to print a copy when required. All downloads are in PDF.
Handbook for controlled drugs accountable officers in England, 1st Edition (v1.1) – Full
Section 1 – About this handbook
Section 2 – The core role for all Accountable Officers
Aide-Memoire checklist # 1 – AO core role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 1 – AO core role
Section 3 – Information relating to specific bodies
Aide-Memoire checklist # 2 – PCT AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 2 – PCT AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 3 – Secondary Care AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 3 – Secondary Care AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 4 – Hospice AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 4 – Hospice AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 5 – Independent Hospital AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 5 – Independent Hospital AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 6 – Ambulance Trust AO role
Aide-Memoire checklist # 6 – Ambulance Trust AO role
Section 4 – Appendix
Appendix 1 -Template letter for authorisation of destruction of controlled drugs
Appendix 1 -Template letter for authorisation of destruction of controlled drugs
Appendix 2 - Occurence report example
Appendix 2 - Occurence report example
Appendix 3 - Arrangements in place for the safe management of controlled drugs
Appendix 4 - Glossary of abbreviations
Appendix 5 - Acknowledgements
Links to other resources
- A guide to good practice in the management of controlled drugs in Primary care (England) 3rd edition
To access the self-assessment tools provided by CQC click the following link:
www.cqc.org.uk/guidanceforallhealthcarestaff/managingrisk/controlleddrugs/self-assessmenttools.cfm
