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Deacon unveils proposals to extend nurse prescribing
03/11/2000
Proposals to extend the role of nurses in prescribing medicines were outlined today by Health Minister, Susan Deacon.
The move will give patients quicker and more convenient access to medicines and will also enable more nurses to issue prescriptions, in line with the UK Government's Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines.
Susan Deacon said:
"In a modern Health Service, we must make the best possible use of all the skills of the NHS workforce. There are many tasks and treatments which were once undertaken by doctors which can now be carried out, with the necessary training and support, by nurses and other healthcare professionals.
"A patient centred NHS must deliver services to meet the needs of patients, not the other way around. Greater flexibility, fewer demarcations and better teamworking are key.
"Our proposals will extend nurse prescribing and improve patients' access to medicines. This will make the best use of nurses skills and expertise and will offer more responsive, flexible services to patients."
- Minor injuries and ailments like cuts, burns and hay fever
- Promoting healthier lifestyle such as smoking cessation
- Chronic diseases including asthma and diabetes
- Palliative care (care for terminally ill patients).
BACKGROUND
1. Nurse prescribing was first introduced in Scotland in 1996, with two small pilot sites in general practices. By the spring of 2001, around 3000 nurses will be prescribing.
2. The current nurse prescribing scheme allows district nurses and health visitors (and practice nurses with a district nurse or health visitor qualification) to prescribe from a limited list of products set out in the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary.
3. This consultation is centred on proposals to extend nurse prescribing to a wider range of nurses, from an expanded Nurse Prescribers' Formulary. It includes the proposed principles, potential medical conditions, options for extending the Nurse Prescribers' Formulary, nurses who may train to prescribe, and plans for their preparation and training. The Scottish Executive and the Medical Control Agency will be seeking the views of health professionals on these proposals.
Comments should be sent, no later than 15 January 2001, to: -
Mary Waugh
Pharmaceutical Policy Division
Scottish Executive Health Department
Room 29D
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
E-mail: mary.waugh@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
News Release: SE2837/2000
3 Nov 2000