Controlled drugs
This section provides information about our role and the legal responsibilities of healthcare providers that handle controlled drugs.
What we do
We make sure that controlled drugs are managed safely. We do this by:
- checking how different regulators and agencies work together
- giving guidance and tools to healthcare providers
- leading the Controlled Drugs National Group
- reporting to the government about how partner organisations work together
- assessing and overseeing how health and social care providers manage controlled drugs
- taking part in local intelligence networks led by NHS England. These networks bring together organisations from:
- NHS and independent health sectors
- responsible bodies, regulators, and agencies, including the General Pharmaceutical Council, NHS Counter Fraud Authority and police services.
View our latest report on the safer use of controlled drugs which highlights our regulatory oversight activities and assessment findings.
View the Department of Health's guidance on controlled drugs regulation.