Disposal of Medicines

The care provider you work for should record the process for disposing of medicines
in their medicines policy.

• Store medicines for disposal securely and separately to in use medicines.

• Control access, until they are collected or taken to the pharmacy.

• Do not dispose of medicines on site through the sewage or general waste system.

NICE SC1 says “Medicines for disposal should be stored securely in a tamper-proof container within a cupboard until they are collected or taken to the pharmacy.”

Dispose of medicines by returning them to a community pharmacy or dispensing doctor

(it does not need to be the community pharmacy or dispensing doctor that originally supplied the medicine) 

Separate unwanted or out-of-date controlled drugs from current stock.

• Store them in the controlled drugs cupboard.

• All medicines, including controlled drugs, should be promptly returned to a community pharmacy when no longer required.

Good practice involves two staff members recording entries in your controlled drugs register. This helps to verify that the register is accurate. Some pharmacists will sign the register to acknowledge receipt. This is not a legal requirement.

You must keep records to ensure that medicines are handled properly during disposal.
Records could include:

• date of disposal or return to pharmacy

• name and strength of medicine

• quantity removed

• person for whom medicines were prescribed or purchased

• signature of the member of staff who arranges disposal of the medicines

• signature of the person collecting the medicines for disposal

You should treat disposal records as part of a person’s care record. Care records must be retained for eight years.

The care provider you work for should record the process for disposing of medicines in their medicines policy.

• Store medicines for disposal securely and separately to in use medicines.

• Control access, until they are collected

• Do not dispose of medicines on site through the sewage or general waste system.

NICE SC1 says "Medicines for disposal should be stored securely in a tamper-proof container within a cupboard until they are collected or taken to the pharmacy."

You must only return medicines to a licensed waste disposal company.

This might include community pharmacies

Controlled drugs in Schedules 2, 3 and 4 (Part I) must be denatured before disposal.

Patients' own controlled drugs :Patients' own individually labelled controlled drugs must be denatured before handing to the waste disposal company. Good practice involves two staff members - one to denature and one to witness. The Environment Agency classes this as processing waste. The nursing home will need to apply for a T28 waste exemption. This is free of charge.

Stock: Occasionally, the Home Office grants a licence for a nursing home to hold a stock of controlled drugs. You must denature out-of-date stock in Schedules 2, 3 and 4 (Part I).

Schedule 2 stock must be destroyed in the presence of an authorised witness. This includes a police constable or inspectors of the General Pharmaceutical Council. The lead controlled drugs accountable officer of NHS England may also appoint authorised witnesses. You also need to record details of the destruction in your controlled drugs register. It is good practice for another member of staff to witness the denaturing of stock in Schedules 3 and 4 (Part I).

You must keep records to ensure that medicines are handled properly during disposal.

Records could include:

• date of disposal or return to pharmacy

• name and strength of medicine

• quantity removed

• person for whom medicines were prescribed or purchased

• signature of the member of staff who arranges disposal of the medicines

• signature of the person collecting the medicines for disposal

You should treat disposal records as part of a person’s care record. Care records must be retained for eight years.