From Monday 14th November 2005 you are required to ensure that all prescriptions for controlled drugs:
- are written indelibly
- be in ink or otherwise indelible
- be signed in the prescriber's own handwriting and dated (NB date does not have to be handwritten)
- specify the prescriber's address
- state the name and address of the patient (and age if under 12 years) (2,3)
- state the name and form of the drug (e.g. capsules), even if only one form exists
- state the strength of the preparation, where more than one strength is available
- state the dose
- state the total quantity of the preparation, or the number of dose units, in both words and figures (except for temazepam)
- if issued by a dentist, state the words 'for dental treatment only'.
Note that all details, except for the signature, no longer have to be handwritten.
Reference:
- Letter from Head of Medicines Management Coventry PCT (November 14th 2005). Requirement to handwrite CD prescriptions abolished
- National Prescribing Centre (December 2005). A guide to good practice in the management of controlled drugs in primary care (England)
- MeReC Extra (January 2006):20:2.