Controlled Drugs Register

Purpose. This register records every receipt, administration, disposal and balance check of Schedule 8 and Schedule 4 restricted drugs held at the Shepparton clinic and the shelter treatment room.

1.Purpose and legal basis

Riverbend holds controlled drugs for anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia. The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria) requires an accurate, bound register for Schedule 8 drugs and strict storage and recording for restricted Schedule 4 drugs. This document sets out how the register is kept.

2.Storage

Schedule 8 drugs must be stored in the fixed steel safe in the treatment room. Only the veterinarians and the senior nurse hold keys. The safe must be locked whenever it is not being accessed. Schedule 4 restricted drugs must be stored in the locked drug cupboard. Keys must never leave the site.

3.Recording entries

Every movement must be recorded at the time it occurs, in ink, in the bound register. Entries must show the date, the drug and strength, the quantity received or used, the animal identifier or supplier invoice, the balance remaining and the signature of the person making the entry. Errors must be struck through with a single line and initialled, never erased or overwritten.

• Receipt from supplier: invoice number and quantity
• Administration: animal identifier, dose, route, veterinarian
• Disposal: witness name and method
• Balance check: counted balance and any discrepancy

4.Balance checks

The senior nurse must count the physical stock against the register balance every Monday and the Senior Veterinarian must check monthly. Both checks must be recorded. Any discrepancy must be reported to the Senior Veterinarian immediately and investigated the same day.

5.Disposal

Expired or unwanted controlled drugs must be disposed of through the licensed waste contractor. Disposal must be witnessed by a second authorised person and recorded in the register with both signatures.

6.Retention and audit

The register and supporting invoices must be retained for at least three years after the last entry. The register is available to authorised officers on request. The Practice Manager reviews register practices annually.