New guidance on CDs published
Help for pharmacists in England to cope with the new arrangements for handling controlled drugs, introduced in response to the Shipman Inquiry, has been published by the Practice and Quality Improvement directorate of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
The guidance deals with some current legal requirements and points of
good practice, as well as changes outlined in the 2005 Health Bill (which
are expected this autumn) and the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations
2001 (which are expected this summer).
Changes designed to improve inspection and monitoring include a legal
requirement for NHS trusts and other NHS and private organisations to
appoint an accountable officer who will be responsible for the safe management
of CDs within their organisation.
Other changes include an extension to the number and groups of people
who are authorised to witness the destruction of CDs.
Further details about the Society’s guidance (PDF 60K),
and also that issued by the Department
of Health
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Hospital Pharmacist