July 16th 2025

By Ailsa Colquhoun

CQC calls for better Controlled Drugs practice

Providers need to establish clear guidelines to manage polypharmacy-related risks and to introduce fail-safes in prescribing and dispensing controlled drugs, according to a new report from the CQC.

The safer management of controlled drugs: Annual update 2024 highlights duplicate prescriptions or oversupply of controlled drugs, enabling patients to acquire excessive quantities of opioids. There are also examples of inappropriate drug combinations, inadequate medication review and communication of the risks of polypharmacy.

The CQC report also calls for better recording of controlled drugs, particularly when administered in the patient’s home. Ensuring accurate patients’ records supports safe and effective care and helps guard against inadvertent losses or intentional diversion.

The report also urges providers to:

• ensure patients have a pain management plan to prevent unsafe self-medication and reduce the risk of overdose or complications.
• follow guidance on working within professional competence
• establish an organisational lead for controlled drugs.