Operating department practitioners and ordering of Controlled Drugs (p26)
The Home Office has confirmed that operating department practitioners
(ODPs) are authorised to order Schedule 2, 3 ,4 and 5 Controlled Drugs
from a hospital pharmacy and that the hospital pharmacy, in which the
ODP is practising, would be able to supply an ODP with those drugs.
ODPs are able to possess and supply Schedule 2–5 Controlled Drugs
for the purposes of administration to a patient in a ward, theatre or
other department, at the hospital in which they are practising, in accordance
with the directions of an appropriate practitioner for that particular
drug.
Currently, when ordering Controlled Drugs from a hospital pharmacy, the
ODP is under no legal obligation to provide a written requisition. However,
pharmacists are advised as a matter of good practice and/or to comply
with local standard operating procedures, supplies should be made on
the receipt of a requisition signed by the ODP.
The legislation is due
to be changed to make the provision of a written requisition a legal
requirement. There is no provision to allow an ODP to obtain Controlled
Drugs from a community pharmacy.
This amends the information on “Requisitions for Schedule 1, 2
and 3 Controlled Drugs” published on p26 of “Medicines, ethics
and practice: a guide for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians” (31st
edition, July 2007). Back to Top
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The retention of veterinary Controlled Drug prescriptions (p30)
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are advised of a correction to
be made to “Medicines,
ethics and practice: a guide for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians” (31st
edition, July 2007). On p30 it states that veterinary Controlled Drug prescriptions “must
still be retained for a period of two years”.
While this is correct in
relation to the requirements of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended,
such prescriptions are also subject to the requirements of the Veterinary Medicines
Regulations 2007.
The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2007 require all documents and records
pertaining to prescription-only medicines for veterinary use, (including prescriptions),
to be retained for at least five years. This information appears on p88 of “Medicines,
ethics and practice”, in section “1.8.3 Records” of the chapter
entitled “1.8 Medicines for veterinary use” |
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Pharmaceutical Journal