Supplementary prescribing gets go ahead
pharmafile | October 22, 2003 | News story | |
Thousands of trained pharmacists and nurses will be able to prescribe drugs for chronic diseases by late 2004, the Government has announced.
The plans were confirmed after professional bodies and patient groups gave their support for supplementary prescribing in conditions such as asthma, diabetes, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.
Comprehensive training will begin early next year and will produce 10,000 nurse and 1,000 pharmacist supplementary prescribers by the end of 2004.
During a visit to a groundbreaking anticoagulation clinic at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital, Health Minister Lord 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 in partnership with GPs or hospital doctors".
The extension of prescribing rights required the passing of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, and will enable the Government to extend prescribing responsibilities further if the scheme proves successful.
The Guys and St Thomas' unit has pioneered a joint nurse/pharmacist team to prescribe anticoagulants through the existing patient group direction system.
Chief Pharmacist at the hospital, Tony West, said: "This will help improve patient access to medicines, and increase the opportunity for patients to get advice about their medicines. Additionally, this extended role ensures the NHS makes the best use of key professional staff by forging stronger partnerships between doctors and pharmacists in full collaboration with the patient".
The plans have also been welcomed by Prof David Haslam, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, who said current arrangements were "insulting" to highly trained nurses.
The Government may now face renewed demands for pay rises for nurses and better deals for pharmacists to match the greater level of responsibility. Nurse unions recently called for a 14% pay gap between their members and the police to be closed.
