This website and its contents have not been updated since May 2012.
Some of the content on this website may be out of date, please use caution if using it to inform practice.
For all current products please view Medicines and prescribing support from NICE.
Controlled drugs
NPC legacy site
From 15th May 2012, the team delivering the work of the NPC will form the NICE Medicines and Prescribing Centre and will sit alongside the Clinical Guidelines team within the Centre for Clinical Practice.
The NICE Medicines and Prescribing Centre will continue to provide resources which aim to support healthcare professionals and organisations in the safe and effective use of controlled drugs, in line with regulatory changes and best practice. However, there will be some changes to the way in which these resources are produced and published going forward, as part of the overall work delivered by NICE.
All future Medicines and prescribing outputs, including those on Controlled Drugs, will be published on the NICE website and signposted from the Medicines and prescribing homepage.
In addition, there will also be changes to the protected area of the website used by Controlled Drug Accountable Officers (CDAOs) and individuals nominated by CDAOs to access additional resources, share resources with peers and participate in a dedicated discussion group. These changes will not take effect immediately upon the launch of the Medicines and Prescribing Centre. Therefore, access to the current protected area of the website will continue until further notice.
Although no new Medicines and prescribing content will be published to the NPC legacy website, the extensive catalogue of existing publications, resources and e-learning materials will still be available to view and download for as long as the information contained within them remains accurate and up-to-date.
Resources and information will be of value to all those involved in the management and prescribing of controlled drugs.
In addition Accountable Officers and individuals nominated by Accountable Officers are able to log into a protected area of this website to access additional resources, share resources with peers and participate in a dedicated discussion group.
Key NPC support documents
Handbook for controlled drugs Accountable Officers in England 1st edition (v1.1), March 2011
What’s new
Recent legislation change
New legislation came into force on 23rd April 2012 which allows:
| • | Nurse independent prescribers to prescribe any schedule 2-5 controlled drugs for any medical condition, within their clinical competence, removing the previous limitations |
| • | Pharmacist independent prescribers to prescribe any schedule 2-5 controlled drugs for any medical condition, within their clinical competence |
| • | Nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers, and supplementary prescribers when within the terms of a clinical management plan, to mix controlled drugs for administration and provide written directions for others to do so |
| • | These changes do not apply to the prescribing of cocaine, diamorphine or dipipanone for the treatment of addiction (this is restricted to Home Office licensed doctors). |
| • | Registered nurses and pharmacists to supply or offer to supply morphine or diamorphine under a PGD for the immediate and necessary treatment of a sick and injured person in any setting |
