Organisational practices in postoperative opioid prescribing at discharge in UK NHS day surgery units: the OPIOID ‐discharge survey
Authors' conclusion
Six months after the drug safety update, there is evidence of significant impact, with most Trusts sharing the alert and moving away from modified-release opioids.
Study context
- Population
- Day Surgery Units and Drugs and Therapeutics Committees of acute hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland83 Day Surgery Units, 70 Drug and Therapeutics Committees
- Outcome
- Compliance with the MHRA drug safety update on prolonged-release opioids for postoperative pain
- Follow-up
- 6 months post-publication
Methodological detailssurvey, multicentre
- Survey
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Organisational discharge opioid prescribing practices
- Trusts routinely using modified-release opioids before March 2025
- 51/70 (73%)
- Committees that shared the guidance
- 59/70 (84%)
- Organisations previously using modified-release opioids that no longer do so
- 38/51 (75%)
- Units still dispensing modified-release opioids
- 10/70 (14%)
- Discharge letters advising general practitioners against repeat prescriptions (units dispensing opioids)
- 19/60 (32%)
- Units providing patient information on opioid risks
- 17/60 (28%)
- Formal training on acute postoperative pain management confirmed
- 22/83 (27%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Organisational practices in postoperative opioid prescribing at discharge in UK NHS day surgery units: the OPIOID ‐discharge survey. Anaesthesia. Published 29 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →