Non Medical Prescribing

Non Medical Prescribing

• Following legislation in 2013 allied health professionals can also qualify and register with the HCPC as Independent and Supplementary prescribers (Physiotherapists, Podiatrists and Chiropodists). Radiographers who complete the course qualify as Supplementary prescribers only. This course can qualify nurses and midwives to register with MNC as Independent and Supplementary prescribers.

Non Medical Prescribing

This course aims to prepare practitioners as Independent and/or Supplementary Prescribers in accordance with the appropriate Professional Regulatory Body( Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Health and Care Professions Council) guidance.

The benefits to the student of completing this course is that it will allow them to use their skills, knowledge and experience to its full extent for the benefit of patients. Non-medical prescribing is a key qualification needed for anyone wanting to become an advanced practitioner / operate in an advanced practice role.

Non Medical Prescribing

The course is for: Nurses and midwifes working in advanced practice

roles. Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Chiropodists, Radiographers working in advanced practice roles

The course will help improve patients access to medicines and in so doing will help to reduce waiting times and delays. This should lead to greater service efficiency and a better patient experience.

Non Medical Prescribing

• 26 days taught content delivered at SHU• Stimulating /relevant sessions delivered by a variety of external

speakers• 12 days (90hrs practice learning)• Delivered at Level 6 and 7• Approved by NMC and HCPC• Well subscribed• Evaluates very well• Vast majority of students are nurses

Regulatory body requirements

Non Medical Prescribing

Philosophy of the course

The extensions to Non-medical Prescribing within the National Health Service (NHS) represents a significant opportunity for nurses, pharmacists and other Allied Health Professionals to contribute to the modernisation agenda, as initially identified in the NHS Plan (DoH 2001) and developed throughout subsequent policy documents including:

Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier (DoH 2004) The NHS Improvement Plan: Putting people at the heart of public services (DoH 2004) Creating a patient-led NHS: Delivering the NHS Improvement Plan (DoH 2005) The NHS in England: operating framework for 2007-08 (DoH 2006) High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review (Darzi 2008) Making the Connections: using healthcare professionals to deliver organisational improvements

(DoH 2009, 2010) Liberating the NHS (DoH 2012)

Non Medical Prescribing

Learning Outcomes

By engaging successfully with this course a student will be able to:

  Undertake effective history taking, consultation and physical assessment skills with patients,

clients and carers, including medication history and current medication (including over the counter alternative and complementary health therapies), to inform accurate diagnosis

Critically evaluate safe, appropriate and cost effective prescribing practice, in partnership with Independent prescribers and the wider care team, including accurate record keeping in the context of medicines management

Reflect upon aspects of the law and the professional framework of accountability relevant to the practice of independent and supplementary prescribing, including the prescribing of unlicensed medicines

Non Medical Prescribing

Identify and use sources of information, advice and decision support systems which underpin the practise of independent prescribing, and communicate the ethical management of influences on prescribing practice

  Utilise knowledge of pharmacology to explain pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in relation to the

disease process and apply to the monitoring of response to medicines, treatment modification and referral   Critically evaluate the roles and relationships of others involved in prescribing, supplying and administering

medicines and develop and document a clinical management plan (CMP) within the context of a prescribing partnership

Practice within a framework of professional accountability and responsibility and critically reflect upon the importance of continuing professional development

Demonstrate recognition of the unique implications and developmental context of the anatomical and physiological differences between neonates, children and young people

Non Medical PrescribingAssessment and feedback

There are two summative (formal) assessment tasks for this course:

 Task One• A 1 ½ hour, two part examination, that focuses upon short and multiple

choice questions designed to assess the students’ knowledge of numeracy (Part A) and pharmacology, prescription writing and the principles and legal issues central to prescribing practice(Part B).

• The pass mark for Part A (numeracy) is 100%The pass mark for Part B (pharmacology) is 80%

If a registrant fails to answer correctly any question that may result in direct harm to a patient/client they must be referred

Non Medical PrescribingAssessment cont'd

Task Two - Portfolio• The Portfolio (100% weighting) requires the student to demonstrate achievement of the

module learning outcomes by providing confirmation of:

• satisfactory completion of a period of 90 days practice learning and assessment of competence by a Designated Medical Practitioner through a completed Practice Assessment Document (PAD)

• satisfactory completion of an Objective, Structured, Clinical Assessment (contained within the PAD) which is undertaken in practice and supervised by a Designated Medical Practitioner

• a 4,500 word reflective commentary supported by evidence to confirm achievement of practice learning, including a Clinical Management Plan and examples of prescription writing.

Non Medical Prescribing

Update of the single competency framework for all prescribers  This framework, developed by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) in May 2012, was due for

review in May 2014. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is managing the updating process working closely with other

professional bodies and organisations. The update will reflect the current evidence base, health and social care organisational structures, professional requirements and user needs. Key dates are:

June-July 2015: project board and steering group set up 

July-September 2015: reference network established December 2015: first draft

  January-February 2016: validation and user testing with prescribers and patients

  March 2016: consultation draft

  May 2016: update published http://www.nice.org.uk

Non Medical Prescribing

Radiography• The public consultation on proposals to introduce independent prescribing by

radiographers across the UK has been published.• The consultation closes on 22 May 2015. • The campaign to gain independent prescribing rights for radiographers is part of The

Allied Health Professions (AHP) Medicines project, a joint initiative by NHS England and the Department of Health to extend prescribing, supply and administration of medicines to Allied Health Professions: independent prescribing by therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers and paramedics; supplementary prescribing by dieticians; and use of exemptions from Medicines Act Regulations by orthoptists.

(Society of Radiographers)

Non Medical PrescribingParamedics

The NHS is now consulting on proposals to enable paramedics, working at an advanced level and who have undergone the appropriate training, to be able to become independent prescribers of medicines across the United Kingdom.

The proposed changes will enable the development of new roles and new ways of working which will better utilise the skills of paramedics and therefore support the delivery of safe, effective services that are focused on the patient experience whilst also being cost effective.

NHS England is currently consulting on proposals to allow four allied health professions to be able to prescribe or supply and administer medicines, as appropriate for their patients. These are:

Independent prescribing by radiographers

Independent prescribing by paramedics;

Supplementary prescribing by dietitians; and

The use of exemptions within the Human Medicines Regulations (2012) by orthoptists.

The proposals for radiographers, paramedics, dietitians and orthoptists would require changes to be made to medicines legislation.