Safe Storage of Medicines (controlled drugs) in the Home

Safe storage of medicines (controlled drugs) in the home

Patient Information

District Nursing Service

• Author ID:           EG 
• Leaflet Ref:         CM 285 
• Version:              3 
• Leaflet title:         Safe storage of medicines (controlled drugs) in the home
• Date Produced:   August 2024 
• Expiry Date:        August 2026

Introduction

There may be an occasion in your life that you might need to be prescribed strong medication such as painkillers. Some examples of these medicines known as controlled drugs are Morphine and Midazolam.  These drugs are subject to special control measures. 

These medicines may be prescribed and taken orally (by mouth), applied as a patch, given as an injection or via a 24-hour syringe pump. 

Delivery and collection of prescriptions

You or your family /carers are responsible for collecting your medicines from the community pharmacy.  Nurses do not usually collect and transport medicines, this would only be done in special circumstances.

Storage of Controlled Drugs

You play an important role in keeping medicines safe and out of the hands of those who should not have them. This can be done by locking your medicines away and informing your GP, pharmacist, or District Nurse if you suspect someone has used or interfered with your medication.  If there are likely to be any children in the house at any time, it is important to keep your medicines safely out of sight and reach in a high cupboard.  Most medicines should be kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

The law relating to controlled drugs 

Due to laws in place, your District Nurse will count and record any Controlled Drug medicines when they visit your home.  If there are any medicines that are missing, the District Nurse must notify their senior manager.  If the medicines cannot be found, then Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will inform the local police to investigate this.

Any Unused Drugs

If your Controlled Drugs have been prescribed for a nurse to give to you, then they will be destroyed safely by your District Nurse when they are no longer needed.  Do not attempt to destroy any medicines yourself.  It would be your responsibility to return any other medicines to your local pharmacy.

Useful Information

Your district nurse will be able to help or provide you with helpful contact details as required. Please ring the District Nurse Hub on 0300 707 7700.