Hundreds of prescription drugs go missing from hospitals in Tayside

Hundreds of prescription drugs have gone missing from Tayside hospitals.

Dozens of different substances have disappeared ranging from simple painkillers to well-known narcotic substitutes since April 2011.

Among them was a box of mifepristone, a drug typically used in abortions, along with vials of ketamine, an anaesthetic and analgesic drug used illicitly as a hallucinogen.

Between April 2013 and April 2014, 20 different substances went missing from hospitals across the region. These included heroin substitute methadone and 14.25ml of morphine.

An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said the impact on its budget was minimal.

She added: “We have robust procedures in place so that when medicines appear to be missing immediate action is taken.

“Follow-up investigation or actions are taken where considered necessary and this may involve contacting the police.”