CQC - The safer management of controlled drugs: Annual Reports
CQC annual reports on the safer use of controlled drugs highlight their regulatory oversight activities and inspection findings.
It includes what they found from their inspection and engagement activity under the Health and Social Care Act as well participating in local controlled drug intelligence networks led by NHS England.
Some key issues that they highlight from 2024 include:
- impending changes to NHS England and the regional and national controlled drugs oversight function
- the need to improve cross-border prescribing datasets on controlled drugs
- access to controlled drugs in care homes for end of life care
- the importance of healthcare professionals working within their scope of practice
- fraudulent activity and diversion of controlled drugs by health and care professionals and support staff, as well as by people impersonating a range of healthcare professionals.
- prescriptions produced fraudulently within electronic systems in primary care to conceal the theft, and ongoing fraud with private prescriptions, often for controlled drugs in lower schedules.
- The report also includes a range of themes that we found from a review of Prevention of Future Death Reports, which we share to highlight the risks associated with controlled drugs.