Usual application processing can take up to 30 working days after receipt of a fully completed and accepted application form. Please note it can take longer than this for complex applications and where the application has not been completed correctly. A corporate body operating 5 or more pharmacies may apply to the appropriate NHS England CDAO to designate suitably trained individual employees and/or class of employees as Authorised Witnesses.

The regulations require the NHS England Accountable Officer to facilitate a ‘Local Intelligence Network’ (LIN) to share information and intelligence on the safe use and management of controlled drugs.As a consequence of passing the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the 2006 regulations have been revised to reflect the new architecture in the NHS in England. The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2013 came into force in England on 1 April 2013.

All incidents involving controlled drugs should be reported to the Accountable Officer. This provides assurance that any risks have been mitigated and prompts any necessary action to be taken. Reporting also allows for the identification of themes in reported incidents from which learning can be shared across the system. North East (North Cumbria, Tyne and Wear) Controlled Drugs (CD) team is led by the Lead Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) for the region supported by a Controlled Drugs Accountable Office and a small team from North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS). Gazala KhanThese regulations require NHS England and other ‘designated bodies’ such as NHS trusts and independent hospitals to appoint Accountable Officers for Controlled Drugs and requires those Accountable Officers to ensure safe systems are in place for the management and use of controlled drugs. Our Teams Yorkshire and the Humber Yorkshire and the Humber Controlled Drugs (CD) team is led by the Lead Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO) for the region supported by the CDAO team. NHS England has a statutory duty to ensure that safe systems are in place for the management and use of controlled drugs. This is to prevent harm to patients and staff from any misuse of controlled drugs.