it is currently class C Schedule 3 (CD3 on the BNF) – doesn’t need to be put in a CD register or kept in high secure storage, auditing is at pharmacy level only rather than both pharm and healthcare facility although at work its still within the medium secure environment anyway (separate rooms behind code locked doors) along with all the other patients meds.
It currently seems to be increasingly prescribed for the seniors instead of the stronger stuff although this may also be because the current patients we are getting are more mobile and able to take pills rather than requiring oral solutions or injections.
That said there is a massively reduced hassle and paranoia factor for the healthcare professionals involved compared to class A opiates and everyone in the industry is treated as a potential suspect when it comes to security/compliance.
I can only see the data and have limited knowledge of the healthcare decisions made but I hope that doesn’t mean that elderly patients are being rationed for effective treatment, FFS these folk are not diversion risks. Those who can walk at all have to use walking frames, wheelchairs etc and aren’t going anywhere fast.
