Prescribing Sedatives

Sedatives For Scans / Procedures Performed By Organisations External To Giffords Surgery

If you feel you may require sedation for a hospital procedure or scan, please speak directly with the team carrying out the procedure. They are responsible for assessing your needs and providing any necessary sedation.

Sedatives are medications that help patients feel calm, relaxed, or sleepy. At Giffords Surgery, we do not prescribe sedatives for procedures or scans conducted outside of our practice for the following reasons:

• Clinical Responsibility: GPs are not trained to administer sedation for external procedures or scans. Inadequate sedation may be ineffective, while excessive sedation can lead to complications such as excessive drowsiness or respiratory issues, potentially resulting in the procedure being cancelled.

• Unpredictable Effects: While sedatives such as diazepam typically induce calmness, they can occasionally have the opposite effect, causing agitation, aggression, or disinhibition. This could compromise both your safety and that of others.

• Timing of Sedation: Hospital procedures and scans are often delayed. For your safety and comfort, sedation should be provided by the team performing the procedure to ensure its timing and effectiveness are properly managed.

• Workplace Implications: Diazepam can remain in your system for some time. If your job involves random drug testing, taking this medication may result in a positive test.

Please feel free to share this policy with your hospital team or dentist.