Government response to the ACMD’s advice on NHS England proposals to permit the electronic prescribing of Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs (accessible)
Published 29 September 2023
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Rt Hon Chris Philp MP
Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Professor Owen Bowden-Jones,
Chair, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD)
Professor Roger Knaggs,
Chair of the ACMD Technical Committee, ACMD
C/o 1st Floor,
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
By email only ACMD@homeoffice.gov.uk
29th September 2023
Dear Owen and Roger,
The Government’s response to the ACMD’s advice on NHS England proposals to permit the electronic prescribing of Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs.
I am grateful to the ACMD for their advice on electronic prescribing. I have set out the recommendations and the Government’s response below:
Recommendation 1:
The ACMD recommends to the Home Office that the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 are amended to allow electronic prescribing of Schedule 2 and 3 Controlled Drugs within secondary care and the Health & Justice System.
Government response
The Government accepts the recommendation that the electronic prescribing of Schedule 2 and 3 Controlled Drugs within secondary care and the Health & Justice System should be allowed, subject to further consideration with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) of whether amending the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 is the most appropriate legislative mechanism.
Recommendation 2
The ACMD recommends NHS England evaluate the impact of the proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to allow electronic prescribing of Schedule 2 and 3 Controlled Drugs within secondary care and the Health & Justice System.
This recommendation is led by NHS England and DHSC, who have confirmed they will conduct an evaluation of the impact of the proposed changes once implemented.
Thank you again for your advice.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Chris Philp MP
Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire