Society publishes guidance on changes in management of CDs
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published detailed guidance for pharmacists on impending changes in the governance of Controlled Drugs arising from the recommendations of the Shipman Inquiry.
The changes, summarised in a news
item in last week’s Pharmaceutical
Journal (p307), are expected to come into force over the course of the
year. They include both changes to primary legislation and amendments
to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and will affect the monitoring
and inspection of CDs and their prescribing, record keeping and destruction.
The Society’s guidance document, “Changes in the management
of CDs affecting pharmacists”, describes the expected changes in
detail, answers a number of questions, highlights where to go for further
information and advice, and outlines changes that are to be expected
in the future.
The changes will apply in England, Scotland and Wales, However, because
the three countries may make different arrangements for meeting the new
requirements, the guidance concentrates on the changes that will occur
in England, subject to regulatory approval.
For Wales and Scotland, the detail of and timetable for the implementation
of the changes is yet to be agreed. The Society will provide updated
guidance for these countries as systems develop and when further information
is available.
Commenting on the new guidance, the Society’s head of quality improvement,
Heidi Wright, said: “The Shipman Inquiry concluded that there were
shortcomings in the systems used for the safe management of CDs. Some
of the changes in legislation required to take these recommendations
forward have been made. However, there are many still to come. This guidance
has been specifically designed to support pharmacists by setting out
what changes are anticipated and when they are expected to take place.”
The guidance is available to download as a nine-page PDF file from the
Society’s website (PDF 240K). A version is also published
as a four-page pull-out in this issue of The Journal (pp355–358 PDF (60K)).
Copies can also be requested by contacting the Society’s quality
improvement section (tel 020 7572 2208; e-mail qualityimprovement@rpsgb.org).
The website version is expected to be updated as various changes come
into force.
The Society’s Welsh Executive is producing an amended version of
the guidance that tracks the developments in Wales. This will soon be
available on the Welsh Executive briefing page of the Society’s
website or from the Welsh Executive office (tel 02920 412800; e-mail
wales@rpsgb.org).
Guidance for pharmacists in Scotland is being developed by the Society’s
Scottish Department and will be made available on the Scottish Department
section of the Society’s website in due course.
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