If you work within a pharmacy, in medicine, in residential care facilities, or in healthcare in general, you will likely have experience in handling and storing medications and controlled drugs.
But what do you do if the medicines on site are controlled drugs and need to be refrigerated? Read on to find out now – it’s really not worth taking the risk.
What are controlled drugs?
Colloquially referred to as controlled drugs, a controlled substance is one that is tightly controlled by the government because it may be abused or cause addiction.
The control of these drugs includes every stage of the medications’ journey, from how and where it is made, how it is transported, to who it is prescribed, how and where it is stored, and how and where it is destroyed.
The list of controlled drugs in the UK is exhaustive and long and also notes:
- The class of the controlled drug
This reflects the harm associated with the substance and determines the penalties for misuse which are used during sentencing in court.
This is graded from Class A (the most harmful) to Class C (the least harmful).
- The schedule of the controlled substance
There are 5 schedules which denote the level of therapeutic usefulness and potential harm from misuse.
Schedule 1 drugs are considered the least detrimental with Schedule 4 or 5 being the most dangerous.
If you need to give controlled drugs as part of your job, you will need to administer them carefully following NICE guidelines to the letter – or you could be liable for prosecution yourself. This includes locking them away so they are not accidentally accessed, stolen, or administered by untrained staff.
Unfortunately, some of these controlled drugs might need to be refrigerated, which adds an extra layer of difficulty.
Why do some drugs need to be refrigerated?
There is a wide range of medications that need to be kept in a fridge at temperatures between +2 and +8ºC.
This can include insulins, antibiotic solutions, injections, eye and ear drops, and medicated creams or lotions.
If not kept refrigerated, these medicines can degrade – meaning that they won’t offer the benefits the prescriber intended. Alternatively, they could also become harmful to health if they spoil.
This is also true for controlled drugs.
Secure methods for refrigerated controlled drugs
If you have to safely store refrigerated controlled drugs, you generally have two options for temperature-controlled storage – lockable pharmacy fridges or a more low-budget lockbox.
Lockable pharmacy fridges
A sturdier, more permanent solution is a lockable pharmacy fridge. This mainstay of pharmacy storage allows for safe and secure temperature-controlled storage of controlled and non-controlled medicines alike.
Benefits of this method:
- Assured lockable doors
As the main doors to the fridge are lockable, it is a more secure space overall compared to a removable lockbox within a main fridge.
Plus, it’s much harder to steal an entire pharmacy fridge versus a small box – so thieves will be forced to think again.
- They are better value
While they may be more expensive in the short term, a fridge with the capability to be locked when needed is a more sound investment than multiple more delicate lockboxes and a fridge.
- There are options if the inevitable happens
Unlike lockboxes which need to be thrown away if the keys are lost, you can order new keys or swap out the locking mechanism if needs be. This is because pharmacy fridges are designed to last for years to come – and come with CE certification.
- You can secure a larger quantity of medications
If you work in an establishment with a large number of refrigerated controlled drugs and refrigerated medications, you won’t need to worry about squeezing in multiple boxes and struggling for room.
Simply choose a larger capacity pharmacy fridge so you have plenty of room for everyone – with 30-1,390 litre models available, you won’t be short on space.
Considerations of this method:
- You can’t order a pharmacy fridge from just anywhere
Unlike a domestic fridge which can be easily purchased from many retailers, you will need to contact a specialist provider for lockable pharmacy fridges.
A lock box within a pharmacy fridge
Some establishments make do with a small lockbox within a pharmacy or medicines fridge.
You can utilise something like a money box or a clear lockable box which can then be secured and stored in the main fridge.
Benefits of this method:
- Suggesteddr by the CQC
If you are looking for this kind of solution, you can rest assured that is described as an option by the Care Quality Commission, so should meet all legislative requirements. (Though you should always check with your relevant authorities to be sure).
- It’s accessible
As lockable money boxes can be picked up for as little as £10-£15 from all manner of high street locations, even locations on a tight budget can keep medications safe with little notice.
- Easy-to-use
Most lockboxes are simple to use and don’t need much of an introduction.
- It allows for extra security
Thanks to the inclusion of 2 keys, it’s perfectly possible for staff to keep one key in storage and one in general use, meaning that there will always be another way to access medications.
Concerns with this method:
- It won’t put off determined thieves
As lockboxes themselves tend to be lightweight and small, they can be stolen or hidden in a bag to take them off the premises. These kinds of boxes can also be pretty easily breached if someone has access to general power tools, as the metal and lock mechanism is generally only thin.
This is especially important if the street value of the controlled drugs is high.
- Keys and locks may not be replaceable
It may not be possible to add a new lock or order new keys if the worst happens, meaning you will have to throw away the box and the medications within.
Find trusted medical equipment suppliers for the safe storage of refrigerated controlled drugs
Right here in the UK, we have medical equipment suppliers that are not only pre-qualified, approved suppliers for the NHS supply chain but also preferred partners for some of the biggest engineering and medical manufacturers in the world.
All of which makes obtaining your lockable pharmacy fridges a breeze.
Some images supplied. Some images courtesy of unsplash.com, pexels.com
