The Safe Storage of Drugs and Equipment Exposed as the Great Hospital Robbery Unfolds

From wheelchairs to laptops, vital pieces of medical equipment and even beds, theft in the NHS has become a serious issue according to recent reports. Whist the majority of equipment is stolen to order by organised gangs, shockingly NHS staff are also allegedly involved, acting as the ‘inside man’.

The theft of medicines and controlled drugs is particularly serious, as even the safest of drugs can be dangerous when they fall into the wrong hands.

Last year’s Sky News investigation also uncovered serious failings surrounding the security of medicines and controlled drugs in British hospitals, reporting that a third of NHS trusts surveyed had medicines that were not locked away and had unaccounted missing drugs.

Lec Medical’s Brand Manager, Carolyn Holland, explained: “Whilst the issue of staff theft is extremely worrying and it is one that the NHS takes seriously, apart from following the procedures for the safe storage of drugs, there is little that can be done.”

Carolyn continued: “It is crucial therefore that valuable drugs, vaccines and potentially dangerous substances are stored in professional medical fridges that are specially designed and come complete with a secure lock and warning alarms to restrict unauthorised access.”

Good quality medical fridges come with a sturdy lock, whilst specialised drug cabinets feature a seven-lever mortice dead lock and fully comply with BS2281. A variety of alarms are also fitted, but a simple open door high-pitched alarm may be just enough to provide the necessary time to act on the problem. Even the smallest 45L counter-top medical fridge can contain up to £30k worth of drugs, so protecting the contents is vital and could even save lives.

Carolyn concluded: “In light of this latest report, it is vital that all hospitals, pharmacies and practices urgently check their medical refrigeration equipment.”

Medical fridges should only be sourced from a reputable manufacturer that supplies quality products and offers a nationwide network of service engineers in the event of breakdown.