For NHS Controlled Drug (CD)  prescriptions good practice is as follows

• the patients full details including NHS number are on the prescription (likely to become mandatory)
• the dosing and amounts are in words and figures
• the prescription is dated
• no more than a 30 day supply is usually prescribed
• (computer generated prescriptions are now permissible)

At the pharmacy, anyone collecting a CD will be asked to prove their ID and sign the reverse of the FP10. Any medical practitioner, nurse, etc collecting drugs on behalf of a patient will have to provide ID and a log will be kept in the CDR at the pharmacy and available to inspection. This will state name, occupation and address.

Private Controlled Drug (CD) prescriptions

Pharmacists are no longer allowed to dispense private CDs on anything other than special forms (FP10PCD). These look like a FP10 but are pink. Private prescribers can apply to receive these forms. The PPA will allocate a unique 6 digit number and allocate a local PCT to this prescriber. These prescriptions will be monitored and logged.

 Updated Dec 09 FS