Our role in the regulation of controlled drugs

The Healthcare Commission now oversees the regulation of the management of controlled drugs by healthcare providers in England. Our role involves:

• assessing and overseeing how NHS healthcare providers manage controlled drugs, using information in the annual self-declaration forms submitted to us by all NHS trusts and foundation trusts
• monitoring the management of controlled drugs by independent healthcare providers
• reporting to Government on how safely these organisations manage controlled drugs
• leading a national intelligence group to analyse themes and trends in the management of controlled drugs and publishing its findings annually
• taking part in local intelligence networks led by primary care trusts. These networks bring together organisations from the NHS and independent health and social care sectors, and other regulators including the Commission for Social Care Inspection,the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and NHS counter fraud services and police services. The Healthcare Commission’s Controlled Drugs Regulation Team is taking this initiative forward nationwide.

Back to top