Controlled drugs accountable officers

Controlled drugs accountable officers (CDAOs) are responsible for all aspects of controlled drugs management within their organisation.

The roles and responsibilities of CDAOs, and the requirement to appoint them, are governed by the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2013.

Who can be a CDAO

A CDAO must:

• be a senior manager of their organisation
• not routinely supply or handle controlled drugs themselves as part of their duties as an employee or officer.

Organisations that must appoint a CDAO

All licensed fertility centres that stock controlled drugs must appoint a CDAO unless they are exempt (see below)

• Centres registered with the CQC or dual registration with CQC and HFEA must notify the CQC in the first instance on the following link; http://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/controlled-drugs/controlled-drugs-accountable-officers
• Centres registered only with the HFEA must notify their link HFEA inspector of any changes and these will be updated on the HFEA register, see the link below to the HFEA registered CDAO list.

Exemptions

Exemptions to the requirement to appoint an accountable officer apply if:

• fewer than 10 individuals work at the hospital
• the need to appoint an accountable officer would give rise to difficulties disproportionate to the benefits. This takes into account the number of employees, level of activities provided and difficulties identifying a suitable individual.

If an exemption is received on the basis of less than 10 staff, the link HFEA inspector will determine if the organisation:

• will be removed from the CDAO register
• is not required to submit further notifications unless the situation changes.

Register of accountable officers in England

The HFEA record the details of Fertility centres CDAOs in a published register, which we update quarterly.

Our Current register