DANGEROUS DRUGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21857, 20 July 1934, Page 13

DANGEROUS DRUGS

HOSPITAL PRECAUTIONS REGISTERS OF SUPPLIES NEW REGULATIONS ISSUED [by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday Additions to the schedule of dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1927, are published in the Gazette issued to-night. The drugs named in the list are not generally used, but they are of such a nature that thov can be manipulated to recover certain basic 'drugs. By adding these drugs to the schedule, the Dominion is carrying out the recommendations of a Geneva convention A further Order-in-Ccuneil also brings up-to-date the existing regulations in regard to dangerous drugs. With the exception of new regulations covering the methods to bo followed in dealing with dangerous drugs in public hospitals, the amendments are purely of a machinery nature. The medical superintendent of any hospital or other institution under the control of a hospital board is required to keep a main register showing the total receipts and issues of dangerous drugs acquired by the board. In addition to this main register, there shall be ward books for each ward for the same purpose. The medical superintendent is personally to check the dailyentries made in the main register. This register shall be kept in safe custody and accessible only to the superintendent and to the secretary or the dispenser deputed by the superintendent to have access to it.

The issues of dangerous drugs to wards shall be sufficient only for the estimated requirements of the ward concerned for not more than seven days ahead. The ward sister or person in charge of the ward shall be responsible for keeping the ward register. The ward book shall be checked and compared with any surplus on hand once every week jointly by the person in charge of the ward and the superintendent, or the matron as his deputy. The superintendent or matron shall signify, by initialling and entering the date, that the checking has been done. Suitable locked containers are to be provided for stocks of dangerous drugs.