The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7496 p404-405
5 April 2008

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Early lessons from a local intelligence network on managing Controlled Drugs

Legislation was introduced last year to improve the management of Controlled Drugs. In this article David Harris, Alison Tennant and Duncan Jenkins describe problems encountered and progress made by Dudley Primary Care Trust in setting up a local intelligence network

SUMMARY

The Shipman inquiry exposed gaps in the governance arrangements for Controlled Drugs. The Government responded by enacting legislation that required primary care trusts in England and health boards in Scotland to set up local intelligence networks (LINs) to share information and intelligence about the use and potential misuse of CDs and to share good practice.

Certain NHS and independent health care bodies are also required to appoint an accountable officer to improve the management and use of controlled drugs.

The Health Act 2006 and the Controlled Drugs (Supervision and Management of Use) Regulations 2006 defined the priorities of the LIN and the role of the accountable officer (AO). How these are achieved is determined by the individual network.

The Dudley LIN was established at the end of 2006 and this article describes the early experience in identifying resources required, deciding membership and establishing the role of the LIN.

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