Independent Review of the Management of Controlled Drug Use in ...

3. Terms of Reference
1. To assess the organisational governance arrangements in place in
Health and Social Care Trusts for the management of controlled drugs
in secondary care.
2. To assess the quality and effectiveness of Standard Operating
Procedures in place in trusts in relation to the management and use of
controlled drugs in secondary care.
3. To assess the effectiveness of these arrangements within Health and
Social Care Trusts at clinical practice levels.
4. To assess the effectiveness of communication and partnership working
between Responsible Bodies in ensuring the effective management
and use of controlled drugs in relation to secondary care.
3.1 Exclusions
This review did not assess arrangements in place for the management and
use of controlled drugs in:
Primary care;
Independent Hospitals;
Hospices;
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust
(NIAS);
Operating Theatres;
Community Settings (including controlled drug use in patients’ homes).
Independent hospitals and Hospices are regulated services and as such are
subject to registration and inspection by RQIA. Medicines management,
including the arrangements for controlled drugs, is assessed as part of RQIA’s
inspection programme.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service was reviewed by RQIA in 2010
(report published February 2011) 10 . Its management of controlled drugs was
reported on as part of that review. No major issues in medicines management
including the management of controlled drugs were identified by the review.
Additionally as controlled drug licence holders, each NIAS station is subject to
inspection by MRG.
As part of RQIA’s Three Year Review Programme 2012-15 11 , a review will be
carried out in the acute sector in relation to theatre practice. This will include
an assessment of the management of controlled drugs in operating theatres.
10 http://www.rqia.org.uk/publications/rqia_reviews/rqia_reviews_2010.cfm
11 http://www.rqia.org.uk/publications/corporate_documents.cfm
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