Wanted: nurse entrepreneurs
pharmafile | November 20, 2003 | News story | |Â Â Â
Independent nurse prescribing is to be expanded into 10 new medical areas as part of the latest extension of their clinical roles.
The government says the addition of 30 extra medicines to the list from which extended formulary nurses can prescribe will help the profession fulfil its potential.
The extended list, which was first published in April includes prescribing for pain relief in the course of midwifery practice and in coronary care units for patients with suspected myocardial infarction, and emergency care for acute attacks of asthma and hypoglycaemia.
Other areas include treating bites and minor injuries, chlamydia infections and the treatment of menopause symptoms.
"By opening up the prescription pad to nurses, we have given them a powerful and symbolic tool. One that makes choice a reality for patients - for the young person wanting emergency contraception, for the terminally ill patient being cared for at home by the nursing team," Health Secretary John Reid told the recent Chief Nursing Officer conference in Brighton.
He added: "My vision is that non-medical prescribing moves into the mainstream. Nurse prescribing sends a powerful message to the public and others that nursing is not subservient to medicine but an equal part of the healthcare team."
Government figures show that 1,250 extended formulary prescribers have trained and registered over the last 18 months, 1,000 of which have qualified and registered to be supplementary prescribers.
But the Department of Health seems certain to fall short of its target set just over a year ago of having 10,000 supplementary prescribing nurses by the end of 2004.
The health secretary said the changes were intended to boost a much wider shift in the perception of nurses, and said he wanted to "encourage a new generation of entrepreneurial nurses" who take initiative, create and implement new ideas.
"In my vision nurses are winning contracts to provide services under the new enhanced GMS service provision; they are running practices let have more nurses employing more doctors. Nurses are commissioned to run integrated care services for diabetes or heart failure patients."
The Committee for Safety of Medicines has agreed in principle to the extension of nurse prescribing and will give its formal guidance in 2004.
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