STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

SOP CD 1

Controlled Drugs – Receiving, Checking, Dispensing, Handing-out, Record-keeping, and Destruction Procedure

(includes handing out arrangements for instalment dispensing)

Background
Who may prescribe, supply and administer Controlled Drugs?
Doctors, Dentists & Veterinary practitioners /
  1. Doctors, dentists, Veterinary practitioners, may prescribe all CDs in schedule 2 to 5[1].
  2. Doctors are only able to prescribe diamorphine, dipipanone & cocaine, to substance misusers for the treatment of addiction, if holding a license issued by home Office.
  3. All drugs in 2. Above maybe prescribed for patients (including substance misusers) for the relief of pain due to organic disease or injury without a specific licence.

Independent non-medical prescribers. / 1.Independent nurse prescribers
May prescribe, supply, or administer, or direct others nurses to administer,
  • Diamorphine, morphine and Oxycodone for use in palliative care.
  • Diazepam, midazolam, & lorazepam for use in palliative care or treatment of tonic-clonic seizures.
  • Buprenorphine & Fentanyl transdermal for use in palliative care.
  • Diamorphine & morphine for pain relief after suspected MI or for relief of acute or severe pain after trauma & post-operative.
  • Chlordiazepoxide HCL & diazepam for the treatment of Initial or acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
  • Codeine phosphate, dihydrocodeine tartrate and Co-phenotrope (No restriction)
2.Independent pharmacist prescribers
Currently-may not prescribe any Controlled drugs.
Patient Group Directions (PGD) / The following CDs may be Supplied or administered under PGD.
  • Diamorphine, for treatment of Cardiac pain by nurses in coronary car units & A&E Depts.
  • Midazolam is the only schedule 3 Controlled Drug that can be included in a PGD in certain circumstances.
  • All Schedule 4 Drugs (except anabolic steroids & injectable formulations) for treating person addicted to a drug.
  • All schedule 5 Drugs.

Supplementary non-medical Prescribers / Supplementary nurse/pharmacist prescriber may prescribe & administer any CD within a clinical management plan (CMP) specific to a patient.
Administration /
  • Any person may administer a CD, acting under the directions of a Supplementary prescriber, in accordance with a CMP.
  • Any person may administer to another any drug in schedule 5
  • Any person (except doctor/dentist) may administer any drug in Schedule 2, 3, or 4, in accordance with the directions of doctor/dentist.

Midwives / May possess, supply & administer diamorphine, morphine, pethidine and pentazocine, in the course of professional midwifery practice.

© Practice Services UK Limited.
For use within your practice only. You are not permitted to supply this to any other organisation.

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[1] See Appendix 1 for a list of the CD schedules and the drugs included.