Patients will be able to get quicker and more efficient access to medicines thanks to extensions to nurse and pharmacist prescribing announced by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. From spring 2006, qualified extended formulary nurse prescribers and pharmacist independent prescribers will be able to prescribe any licensed medicine for any medical condition – with the exception of controlled drugs.
The extension means that specialist nurses running diabetes and coronary heart disease clinics will be able to prescribe independently for their patients. Pharmacists will be able to prescribe independently for the local community; for example, controlling high blood pressure, smoking cessation, diabetes, etc.
The aim of the Department of Health in this move is to take pressure off GPs, allowing them to focus on more complex cases and improving the availability of care for patients.
Patricia Hewitt said: “Extending prescribing responsibilities is an important part of our commitment to modernise the NHS. By expanding traditional prescribing roles, patients can more easily access the medicines they need from an increased number of highly trained health professionals. This is another step towards a truly patient-led NHS, giving patients the power to choose where and by whom they are treated.”
