§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What monitoring is done of the use of diamorphine in the treatment of elderly patients in National Health Service hospitals; and what evidence the Department of Health has of such patients being overdosed with diamorphine. [HL1910]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)Diamorphine is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and classified as a schedule 2 Controlled Drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985. Accordingly there are strict controls over its prescription, requisition, storage, and supply.
Department of Health guidance (Guidelines for the Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, commonly known as "the Duthie report") issued in 1988, recommends that a register of the receipt, supply and use of Schedule 2 Controlled Drugs is kept at ward level as good practice. More recently, the controls assurance initiative, launched by my honourable friend the Minister of State of Health, Mr Denham, in November 1999, sets out the "organisational" controls expected to be in place in hospitals across a range of areas. In March of this year, the National Health Service Executive issued a revised controls assurance standard to NHS hospitals—Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines (Medicines Management) This reflects the principles of the Duthie report and can be utilised by hospital personnel and independent auditors to check compliance with statutory, mandatory and best/ good practice.
Recent allegations of misuse of diamorphine are being investigated by the hospitals concerned.