Under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (2001), GPs have a responsibility for controlled drugs (CDs) within their practice. This factsheet highlights what you should be aware of when carrying, storing and recording controlled drugs.

In Northern Ireland, unlike England and Wales, out-of-hours (OOH) organisations may expect GPs to carry and use controlled drugs (CDs) from their own stock. This factsheet highlights what you should be aware of when carrying, storing and recording controlled drugs.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (2001), GPs have a responsibility for controlled drugs (CDs) within their practice. This factsheet highlights what you should be aware of when carrying, storing and recording controlled drugs.

Mrs E, a 29-year-old solicitor, who was 35 weeks pregnant, was admitted to hospital for antihypertensive treatment as she had developed pre-eclampsia. She had a history of epilepsy, which was well controlled by treatment with phenytoin and phenobarbitone. She had been prescribed these medications since her teenage years and had decided to continue with them throughout her pregnancy after appropriate advice and counselling.

Mrs B was a 49-year-old deputy headteacher who, for 18 months, had been increasingly troubled by heavy irregular menstrual bleeding. She was referred to a gynaecologist who carried out a pelvic US and an endomentrial biopsy. In her follow-up appointment with the gynaecologist, Mrs B was told that her investigations had been normal and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was suggested to regulate her bleeding. The gynaecologist told Mrs B that he would be writing to her GP with his opinion and treatment recommendations.

Mr P was a 30-year-old high-earning banker, married with three dependants. He had a one-year history of rheumatoid arthritis, for which he took methotrexate.

Miss F was a 30-year-old bank clerk. She worked very hard and found little time to take exercise. She was obese, weighing 105kg and with a BMI of 45. She went to see Dr Y, asking for contraception as she had a new partner.

Following a minor respiratory tract infection, Mr Y, a 54-year old postman, developed leftsided hearing loss. Mr Y was referred to a consultant ENT surgeon, Mr A, who confirmed a left-sided middle ear effusion.

Mrs S was a 29-year-old secretary with two children. She was obese, with a BMI of 35, and smoked 45 cigarettes a day. She went to see Dr D asking for contraception several months after the birth of her second child. Dr D checked her blood pressure, which was normal, and prescribed a combined oral contraceptive pill.

Mr K, a 37-year-old professional, was admitted for an elective anterior resection of the bowel. Dr A, a consultant anaesthetist, performed the anaesthetic, inserting an epidural catheter to manage postoperative pain with a continuous infusion.

Mr F, a 23-year-old unemployed gardener, had been arrested by the police as he’d been found intoxicated on the street. Dr B (a GP and police surgeon) was called to see him. He took a history from Mr F of heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine use for about a year and was told that he had taken ‘loads of beer’ and ‘some heroin’ on the day of his arrest.

Mrs N had a complex medical history; in her early twenties she had a splenectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment of Hodgkin’s disease. This caused ovarian failure and she then developed a pelvic abscess which left her fallopian tubes occluded.

A 31-year-old housewife and mother of three, Mrs F had coped with epilepsy for many years, taking carbamazepine and phenytoin to control her condition.

Mr O was a young man who had become symptomatic with myotonic dystrophy during the early part of his adolescence. The condition was being managed by Dr J, who had recently received advice from a prominent neurologist that the off-licence prescription of phenytoin would benefit her patient.

Ms V, a 49-year-old secretary, saw Dr L, a gynaecologist, because of problems with an ovarian cyst. Ms V was listed for hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. During her consultation, Ms V told Dr L that she had a family history of thrombosis. Dr L didn’t record this.

As a young man, Mr T had bouts of flank pain and haematuria. Repeated dipstick testing of his urine showed evidence of haematuria and proteinuria. This was investigated by a urologist, with no cause being found. A few years later he had episodes of gout, receiving NSAID treatment.