The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7395 p426
8 April 2006

Society summary

An occasional feature, prepared in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Professional Standards Directorate, to highlight problems and inquiries currently being handled

Law and Ethics Bulletin, 2001 to present

Private Controlled Drugs prescriptions and other changes to the prescribing and dispensing of Controlled Drugs

The Department of Health changes to the prescribing, supply and dispensing of Controlled Drugs in England came into force on 1 April 2006. Pharmacists are advised that wherever possible the Department of Health guidance should be followed, the arrangements will not be enforceable until early summer. Until legislative changes have been made, in exceptional circumstances pharmacists may dispense outside of the Department of Health guidance in accordance with a legally valid prescription.

In the initial stages of the new arrangements, not all prescribers will have their private prescription forms available to them. Legislation to require the use of designated forms is expected to come into force this summer. Therefore, a private prescription that meets the prescription requirements of the Misuse of Drugs and Medicines Act legislation, but is not on a designated form, will still be legally valid for now.

The prime concern for pharmacists at all times should be the well-being and safety of the patient and the public. If a pharmacist makes a decision to supply CDs outside the guidance, he or she should have a good reason for doing so and should be able to justify the decision and reasoning for doing so. It would be advisable to record this as an aide-mémoire.

The Department of Health arrangements relate to prescriptions for Controlled Drugs to be dispensed in the community and not to requisitions.

The Department of Health guidance can be accessed as a PDF file (380K).