Communication for CCG and other agencies regarding CD Storage Bags for the Community Health Teams

As part of a Suffolk-wide campaign to ensure the safety and security of Controlled Drugs within community setting, Suffolk Community Healthcare, in association with Suffolk Constabulary and other agencies have purchased and are rolling out Envopak® bags for the Community Health Teams. These are strengthened plastic pouches which can be sealed using a numbered seal which can be removed and replaced every time a controlled drug is placed into or removed from the bag.

The following extract from our Community Health Teams Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Controlled Drugs explains the process:

  1. To reduce the risk of CDs being unaccountably missing, all schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs are to be stored in sealed Envopak® bag. Bag must be sealed with numbered seal. (Seal serialnumber MUST be recorded in column name of drug and also on System 1 record using free text).
  2. Staff must check the serial number on the Envopak® matches the serial number recorded on the Drug Administration Record (and System 1). If it does, then proceed to access medication by breaking the seal. If it does not, ascertain if any other healthcare practitioner has accessed medication to administer and not recorded this, inform your line manager, complete an incident report including serial number of seal in situ and the one it should have been. (NOTE: If unable to validate number on System 1 go by number recorded on Drug administration record).
  3. A record must be made of the serial number of the security seals used to secure the controlled drugs.
  4. Spare seals must be kept in the bag at all times to enable staff outside SCH to be able to access the drugs and reseal the bag and record the seal number on the drug chart i.e. GPs, Marie Curie, Hospice community staff.
  5. Envopak® bags are provided by SCH and held by the community nursing teams.
  6. When the CDs are no longer required, all medicines are to be returned to the community pharmacy as soon as possible by family/ carers. SCH staff can only transport them if no family/ carer available (see SCH Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines Policy).
  7. Envopak® bags must be removed from the home and should be clearly labelled by the community health team to be returned to the community nursing teamsfor re-use when no longer required.

In the event of any other member of the healthcare team, including GPs, having to access the medications your assistance and adherence to this procedure is vital and will be much appreciated.

Please contact Sarah Miller, Clinical Effectiveness Manager, Suffolk Community Healthcare with any queries:

Tel: 01449 776617