Controlled Drugs

1.CD Incident Reporting

• Serious/Significant Incidents:
  Report immediately to the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO):
  Gazala Khan
  📞 0113 825 5238
  📧 gazala.khan@nhs.net | england.yhcdao@nhs.net

• Routine Incident Reporting:
  Submit via the CD Reporting Portal: www.cdreporting.co.uk

  For non-urgent incidents (no patient risk or misconduct), reports should be submitted within 2 weeks after internal investigation and reflection.

More details and guidance on Controlled Drugs and CD Regulations can be found on the CPE website here.

2. Patient-Returned CDs

• Destruction Requirements:
  Patient-returned CDs (all schedules) should be denatured in the presence of another member of staff, ideally a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
  Note: An authorised witness is not required (as per RPS guidance).

• Recording:

  • Patient-returned Schedule 2 CDs must be recorded and their destruction documented in a separate record
    (not in the CD register).

  • For Schedules 3 and 4 CDs, it is good practice to also record the destruction, even though a CD register entry is not legally required.

• Denaturing Kits:
  Pharmacies should use CD denaturing kits, where available.

3. Date-Expired Pharmacy Stock

• Legal Requirements:
  Under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, pharmacy-owned Schedule 1 and 2 CDs must be destroyed in the presence of an Authorised Witness (AW).

• Arranging Destruction:

  • Pharmacies can request an NHS England-appointed AW via the CD Reporting website: www.cdreporting.co.uk

  • Alternatively, pharmacies can apply for a Temporary Authorised Witness Licence for a registered healthcare professional to carry out the destruction.

• Nomination:
  A different staff member must carry out the physical destruction and a list of CDs for destruction must be uploaded to the CD Reporting website.

• T28 Exemption Requirement:
  Pharmacies must hold a valid T28 exemption from the Environment Agency to legally denature CDs.

  • Guidance and application links are available here – T28 Exemption Guidance & Application

  • You will need your pharmacy’s grid reference coordinates, which can be found here.

4. Recording Destruction (NICE Guidance)

When destroying Schedule 2 pharmacy stock, the following must be entered into the CD Register:

• Name, strength, and form of the CD

• Quantity destroyed

• Date of destruction

• Signature of the Authorised Witness

• Signature of the person carrying out the destruction

• Temporary Authorised Witness Licence number (if applicable)

5. Key Updates (Effective from 1 July 2024)

Changes to the CD destruction process will be implemented from 1st July 2024.
Please refer to the updated Controlled Drugs Destruction Reporter SOP – May 2024 for full details.
This guidance will be updated once the new process takes effect.

6. Multi-Pharmacy Chains

Pharmacy chains can nominate staff to become permanent Authorised Witnesses.
Submit applications using the Controlled Drugs – Multiple Pharmacy Application Form to:
📧 england.yhcdao@nhs.net

More information can be found on the CPE website.