Pharmacists get prescribing powers

Pharmacists will prescribe a limited range of drugs

New powers allowing pharmacists and nurses to prescribe drugs from early next year have been finalised.

The move should allow patients with asthma, diabetes, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure quicker access to medicines.

Under the scheme, after diagnosis, patients will no longer need to re-visit their doctors for prescriptions.

This development means that pharmacists will make fuller use of their five years training and expert knowledge in medicines

Marshall Davies

Instead, patients would be able to get medicines prescribed by a pharmacist or nurse, with agreement from a doctor.

Staff will undergo comprehensive training before becoming 'supplementary' prescribers.

The aim is to have up to 1,000 pharmacists and up to 10,000 nurses trained by the end of 2004.

Training for pharmacists will begin in the spring, and new courses for nurse prescribing will be available from early in the new year.

Health Minister Lord Philip Hunt said: "This move has real potential to provide better and quicker patient care, and to make much better use of highly skilled pharmacists and nurses, by giving them delegated powers to prescribe drugs to patients in partnership with GPs or hospital doctors."

Pharmacists pleased

Marshall Davies, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said: "Our profession welcomes supplementary prescribing.

The current antiquated arrangements are insulting to the many highly trained nurses

Professor David Haslam

"The ability to prescribe will allow pharmacists to take a more active role in delivering care to the benefit of patients.

"This development means that pharmacists will make fuller use of their five years training and expert knowledge in medicines."

Sarah Mullally, Chief Nursing Officer for England said: "This type of prescribing will be a very useful addition to the practice of nurses, many of whom already manage a variety of long term conditions and health needs for their patients.

"Nurses often advise doctors on prescribing decisions in their specialist area, and the introduction of supplementary prescribing will allow nurses to write many of those prescriptions themselves."

GP reaction

Professor David Haslam, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practioners, welcomed the initiative.

He said: "The current antiquated arrangements are insulting to the many highly trained nurses who already effectively make prescribing decisions, particularly in areas like diabetes or asthma management, but who then have to find a doctor to sign the prescription.

"With the right safeguards in place, this will be of benefit to nurses, doctors, and particularly patients - saving everyone time, and increasing teamwork, skillmix, and efficiency."

The proposals for prescribing stem from the recommendations of the Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines, published in 1999.

The Department of Health plans to issue guidance on supplementary prescribing early next year.