Joint Guidance to be issued by PSI & Medical Council Regarding Safe Prescribing and Dispensing of Controlled Drugs

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (“PSI”) and the Medical Council of Ireland have come together to make available practical guidance on the safe prescribing and dispensing of medicines for use by both medical and pharmacy professionals. The use of medication is considered to be one of the most critical and common interventions in patient care, but also one of the highest risks. It is envisaged that this collaborative resource will be used by pharmacists and medical do... The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (“PSI”) and the Medical Council of Ireland have come together to make available practical guidance on the safe prescribing and dispensing of medicines for use by both medical and pharmacy professionals. The use of medication is considered to be one of the most critical and common interventions in patient care, but also one of the highest risks. It is envisaged that this collaborative resource will be used by pharmacists and medical doctors to assist in the safer prescribing and dispensing of controlled drugs. In particular the guidance is focused on the controlled drugs listed in Schedules 2, 3, and 4 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts and incorporates the recent changes made by the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017. The joint guidance is entitled “Safe Prescribing and Dispensing of Controlled Drugs” and, while it is primarily intended for use by professionals working in a primary care setting, the guidance also provides useful information on legal requirements applicable to professionals working in hospital and residential settings. The PSI is seeking the views of members of the public through their online survey, before close of business on 02 June 2017. The guidance can be accessed here and the survey can be accessed here. The Medical Council of Ireland has also invited feedback from partner organisations which can be accessed here. Authors: Lyn McCarthy and Thomas Dowling.