Controlled drugs
Controlled Drugs National Group
The Controlled Drugs National Group is led by CQC. It looks at national controlled drugs governance in England.
It provides collaboration, consistency and assurance to government by:
- sharing intelligence
- highlighting good practice and areas of concern
- reporting on the impact of controlled drugs arrangements
Membership of the national group
Care Quality Commission
Department of Health
General Medical Council
General Pharmaceutical Council
Health and Social Care Information Centre
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales
Medicines Advice (Medicines and Prescribing Centre) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Ministry of Defence
National Police Chiefs’ Council
NHS Counter Fraud Authority
NHS England (including Health and Justice Commissioning)
The Home Office
UK Anti-doping
Veterinary Medicines Directorate
Sub-Groups
4 sub-groups provide expert advice to the national group and issue newsletters. They cover these aspects of controlled drugs:
- theft and fraud
- monitoring prescribing
- safe prescribing, dispensing and administration
- policy and operational issues
Sub-group members are from the national group as well as invited specialists.
Sub-Group newsletters
These newsletters report the group’s findings. They point you to guidance and share examples of good practice and local initiatives. Providers may follow different approaches based on their local needs.
Latest newsletters
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: April 2021
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: December 2020
This gives an example of how a specific organisation responded locally to safety concerns around Alfentanil.
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: July 2020
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: April 2020
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: December 2019
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: July 2019
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: December 2018
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: August 2018
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: May 2018
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: volume 2, December 2017
Controlled Drugs National Group newsletter: volume 1, September 2017
Previous newsletters and guidance
See our earlier newsletters and guidance on safety incidents and checklists on the National Archives.