Summary
The responsibility of anaesthetists in prescribing and administering controlled drugs has extended not only to the recovery room and intensive therapy unit, but also to acute and chronic pain services both in hospital and home care. These guidelines recommend best practice for the safe preparation, distribution and disposal of controlled drugs to meet current clinical demands in peri-operative care. It includes:
- Issuing of controlled drugs within the operating department and key holding
- Ordering and transferring of drugs
- Unused controlled drugs
- Security requirements
- Disposal of controlled drugs