Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many investigations relating to the over-prescription of opioids have been undertaken by the Care Quality Commission in each year for which data is available.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not undertake investigations relating to the over-prescription of controlled drugs. The CQC looks at the arrangements for controlled drugs as well as all other medicines as part of its inspection process. This can include prescribing, particularly where concerns have been raised. This information is then published as part of the CQC’s inspection report.

As well as following up regarding controlled drug prescribing at an individual service level, the CQC also reports on national prescribing trends through its controlled drugs annual report to the Government, these reports are publicly available on its website.