Standard Operating Procedure Guidance
In the licensee setting, we consider that good operating procedure guidance is as valuable as good physical protection in preventing the loss and diversion of controlled drugs.
Home Office Guidelines for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
The Home Office has produced a short summary guide to the areas for licensees to consider when drawing up their SOPs.
The following headings should either form the basis of, or inform additional points for licensee SOP documents. SOPs should take account of regulatory requirements and security practices.
- Check application of Regulations.
- Orders and arrangements for receipt of controlled drugs.
- Acceptance of deliveries & procedures upon receipt.
- QC/QA handling.
- Production and packing runs.
- Procedures for accepting orders and controlled drug dispatch.
- Record keeping and cross-checking processes.
- Controlled drug store access, operative and management responsibilities.
- Controlled drug destructions.
- Theft, loss or adverse incident reporting and handling.
They also produced a fuller guide in 2002 and this may be seen by viewing the Home Office SOP Guide 2002 (PDF 42KB)
